I hope this message finds you well as we head into the Christmas season. It’s been a challenging few weeks for Virginia Republicans, but I want to share some thoughts on where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re headed.

Braddock District: Thank You, Ken Balbuena

On Tuesday, Republican Ken Balbuena earned nearly 30% of the vote in the Braddock District special election—the fourth time this year Fairfax voters have been asked to go to the polls. In a district where turnout was just 18% and Democrat organizational advantages are significant, Ken ran a spirited campaign that reminded nearly 4,800 voters that there is an alternative to one-party Democrat rule.

Ken knocked on doors, showed up at community events, and represented conservative values with integrity. That takes courage, and I am grateful for his service.

The reality of special elections is that they favor the party with the strongest get-out-the-vote machine—and right now, that’s the Democrats. But every campaign builds relationships, identifies supporters, and lays groundwork for the future. The fight for Fairfax County continues, and the next opportunity will come soon, when there will be another special election in Braddock to fill Rachna Heizer’s schoolboard seat, now that she has been elected Braddock Supervisor. We have a lot of ideas for how to move the needle in Braddock and we would love your help. We are going to work hard to fill every precinct captain position and staff every precinct; we’re going to reach out to churches and other faigth-based groups; we are going to connect with community groups; and find new ways to microtarget voters with tailored messaging. We are all frustrated by the poor results we’ve been seeing in the polls, but that only energizes us to find newer, better, more effective ways to reach voters because we know our policies are the ones that lead to greater prosperity, safety, and well-being.

RPV Advance: A Time of Transition

This past weekend, Rosie and I and several of our Fairfax candidates and volunteers joined hundreds of Republican activists, elected officials, and grassroots leaders at the 42nd Annual Republican Party of Virginia Advance in Williamsburg. The gathering—named in honor of longtime RPV Chairman Don Huffman, who passed away on December 5th at age 98—was a time for reflection, honest conversation, and planning for the battles ahead.

We especially appreciated that one of our all-time favorite people, Wendy Borcherdt, who had worked for President Reagan and now works hard for Fairfax Republicans, was recognized as the Volunteer of the Year. Congratulations Wendy! You inspire us every day!   

🎉 CONGRATULATIONS TO WENDY BORCHERDT—VIRGINIA'S GOP VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR!

Wendy Borcherdt of McLean was just honored by the Republican Party of Virginia at the annual Advance in Williamsburg.

She turns 90 years old in April. Her resume is incredible:
✅ Volunteered on every… pic.twitter.com/lCxmzokUaR

— Fairfax GOP (@FairfaxGOP) December 11, 2025

Chairman Mark Peake announced that he will be stepping down from his role at the end of December. Senator Peake, who also serves in the General Assembly, made clear that the demands of the upcoming legislative session and the critical fight against Democrat redistricting require the next RPV Chairman to devote full-time energy to the task.

I want to thank Chairman Peake for stepping up during a difficult year. He inherited a challenging situation and served honorably. Vice Chair Kristi Way will serve as Acting Chair until the State Central Committee elects new leadership in early 2026. I will keep you informed throughout this process as our state party selects its next chairman to lead us into the battles ahead.

The conversations at the Advance were candid. November was a tough month. But I saw no despair in Williamsburg—only determination. Governor Youngkin, Jason Miyares and John Reid all gave great, inspiring speeches. All remain committed to the freedom movement in Virginia and none is giving up. Virginia Republicans are regrouping, reassessing, and preparing to fight back.

The Coming Battle: Congressional Redistricting Referendum

The biggest fight of 2026 won’t be in November—it will likely be in April.

Here’s what’s happening: In October, while voters were still casting early ballots in the general election, Democrat legislators in Richmond rammed through a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow them to bypass the bipartisan Virginia Redistricting Commission and redraw congressional maps themselves.

If this amendment passes the General Assembly again in early 2026 and wins approval from voters in a special referendum—likely scheduled for April—Democrats will have the power to gerrymander Virginia’s congressional districts before the 2026 midterm elections.

Let me be clear about what this means: Democrats want to overturn the will of Virginia voters who approved the independent redistricting commission in 2020 with 65% support. They want to draw themselves more congressional seats by manipulating district lines. Political analysts estimate this could flip all but one of the Republican-held congressional seats to Democrats, histfing our congressional representation from the current 6 Democrats and 5 Republicans to 10 Democrats and 1 Republican.  

This is a naked power grab, and we have to fight it with everything we have.

The April referendum will have 45 days of early voting, and Democrats will pour resources into turning out their voters. We must match their intensity. Every Republican, every conservative, every Virginian who believes in fair elections must be prepared to vote NO on this referendum.

I’ll have more information in the coming weeks about how you can get involved. For now, mark your calendars and spread the word: The fight for fair congressional districts in Virginia starts now.

Looking Ahead

These are challenging times, but I remain optimistic about our future. We have dedicated volunteers, principled candidates, and a message that resonates with common-sense Virginians who are tired of higher taxes, failing schools, and politicians who answer to extreme activists instead of regular families.

The path forward requires hard work, honest assessment, and unity of purpose. I’m committed to that work, and I know you are too.

Thank you for standing with us. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you and your families, and may God bless Fairfax County and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Katie Gorka Chairwoman, Fairfax County Republican Committee