Four Republican House candidates in Virginia Turning Point for the November 4 local elections.

On November 4, 2025, voters across Virginia will go beyond casting ballots in a routine election, they will decide what kind of leadership the Republican Party will bring to their communities in the years ahead. A new wave of conservatism emerging throughout Northern Virginia emphasizes practicality over ideology, community over competition, and responsibility over rhetoric. Amid growing fatigue over taxes, education, public safety, and local governance, these four candidates represent a movement to restore politics to its original purpose, a citizen-centered, accountable form of leadership.

This special feature spotlights four Republican candidates for the Virginia House of Delegates. Cassandra Aucoin, a hands-on reformer with decades of federal administrative experience; Nhan Huynh, a U.S. Army veteran and first-generation immigrant who embodies the values of freedom and family; Saundra Davis, a civic leader dedicated to restoring trust in education and transparency in fiscal policy; and Adam Wise, a constitutional scholar devoted to reaffirming the principles of limited and responsible government. Their generations and backgrounds differ, yet they are united by a shared conviction: politics is not about promises, but service, and authority derives from responsibility.

Every Republican candidate on the ballot this November did not receive a party appointment or top-down nomination. Instead, they earned their place through the Republican Primary Election, held on June 10, 2025. Through a competitive and transparent process, they became official Republican nominees by the direct choice of Republican voters in their respective districts. Their legitimacy as candidates does not come from the party’s decision, but from the will of the people who selected them.

During campaign season, the term “endorsement” often appears in political discussions. Yet, endorsements, expressions of support from individuals, organizations, or officials, are entirely separate from the legal process of nomination. Endorsements carry symbolic weight, but no binding authority. In contrast, the primary election is a formal mechanism through which voters themselves decide who will represent the Republican Party. Only those who win their primaries gain the legal right to appear on the general election ballot as Republican candidates. In short, the primary is a legal and institutional process, while endorsements are purely political signals. Thus, every Republican candidate running this November has been directly validated by voters, not merely by party elites.

The political philosophy shared by these Republican nominees is grounded in pragmatism and accountability, “less ideology, more responsibility.” They define their vision as one of “healthy conservatism,” a commitment not to partisanship but to practical solutions that improve citizens’ daily lives. Their agenda is rooted in the belief that government should be small but effective, taxation should be light but transparent, and education should focus on students rather than politics. These principles reflect the enduring conservative traditions of the United States — constitutional liberty, personal responsibility, and the moral integrity of local communities.

Ultimately, every Republican candidate running on November 4 has already passed through the rigorous judgment of Republican primary voters. They are not chosen through loyalty to a faction, but through the trust of citizens who believe in their leadership. They represent a renewed form of healthy conservatism, one that balances government responsibility, individual freedom, and the restoration of community values. When Virginia’s voters respond to their sincerity and courage at the ballot box, the future of conservative politics will once again find its direction grounded in reality and responsibility.

Cassandra Aucoin Leadership Grounded in Service and Common Sense

In Fairfax County’s 7th District, Cassandra Aucoin, the Republican candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates, presents a model of leadership rooted in service, discipline, and accountability. A long-time Reston resident, former federal executive, military spouse, and mother of two, Aucoin says she is running to restore common sense to local governance. Her message is direct and resonant with voters across Fairfax: “We live in an incredible place, but we’re paying more and getting less higher taxes, weaker schools, and less safety.”

Aucoin grew up in a military family and graduated from Lake Braddock High School before earning her degree from Virginia Tech. Her husband, Joe, is a U.S. Navy veteran, and their children attended Fairfax County Public Schools. Over a career spanning 35 years in public service, she rose to senior leadership within the Department of Defense, where she oversaw billion-dollar budgets, strategic planning, and organizational reform. Her record in government reflected the principles she now carries into politics: accountability, results, and integrity. As a military spouse, she founded and advised support groups for military families in Washington State and Japan, a testament to her commitment to service beyond title or position.

That foundation of service has shaped her approach to policy. Aucoin is running on a platform centered on lower taxes, better schools, and safer neighborhoods but underneath those slogans lies a comprehensive agenda for restoring balance to Fairfax’s governance. She argues that Northern Virginia has become too expensive for working families, young professionals, and seniors on fixed incomes. Her economic plan calls for cutting the car tax, ending taxation on tips, fighting rising property taxes, and reforming the Virginia Clean Economy Act to reduce energy bills. She promises to “bring more of our tax dollars back home to Fairfax County,” so that local families see a fair return on what they pay. For Aucoin, affordability is not a budgetary topic but a moral obligation to let people “live, work, and build their futures right here.”

Public safety stands as the second pillar of her campaign. Fairfax families, she notes, are seeing the cost of “soft-on-crime policies” that have led to rising retail crime and repeat offenders. Her plan calls for supporting law enforcement, protecting qualified immunity, and reforming the early-release policy that currently shows a 50 percent reimprisonment rate. She also urges harsher penalties for human trafficking and fentanyl-related crimes and insists that offenses against small businesses be treated seriously. “Every person deserves to feel safe at home, at school, and at work,” she says, asserting that security is the foundation of freedom.

Education is the third cornerstone of Aucoin’s vision. She warns that academic performance in Fairfax has declined while the school bureaucracy has expanded. When her Democratic opponent, a former School Board member, supported extended COVID-19 school closures, learning loss deepened and transparency eroded. “Nearly 30 percent of third graders cannot read at grade level,” she notes. Her plan prioritizes a return to fundamentals proven instruction in reading, math, and science; expanded career and technical education (CTE); and greater accountability through independent audits and performance data. Aucoin emphasizes that parents and guardians must be empowered to choose the best education for their children. She also advocates protecting girls’ sports and private spaces under Title IX, stating plainly, “Girls’ sports and private spaces are for girls, not biological boys.”

Transportation reform is another front in her campaign. Northern Virginia drivers, she argues, “are paying more and getting less.” Her plan includes reforming toll agreements to deliver commuter relief, increasing state funding for local road projects, and pushing forward delayed projects such as the Reston Town Center underpass and the Fairfax County Parkway expansion. For Aucoin, fairness in infrastructure funding is a matter of equity for Northern Virginia taxpayers who contribute billions to Richmond yet see too little in return.

Her economic agenda extends beyond tax relief. Aucoin insists that Virginia’s strength lies in its entrepreneurial spirit, not in government dependence. She has pledged to protect the state’s Right-to-Work law, reduce regulatory burdens on small businesses, and diversify the local economy to reduce reliance on federal employment. She opposes a proposed casino in Tysons, calling it “a short-term gamble with long-term costs.” “We succeed when businesses grow not when government expands and bets our future on gambling,” she says.

In health policy, Aucoin focuses on mental health and disease prevention rather than bureaucratic growth. She points to alarming statistics: one in three Fairfax students reports feeling hopeless for weeks at a time, and one in four Virginia adults has a diagnosed mental illness. Her plan expands youth mental health resources, creates a coordinated statewide support system, and launches an initiative for Lyme Disease prevention and treatment. “I will focus on real needs and the most effective ways to address them not add bureaucracy,” she says.

Through each policy area runs a consistent philosophy: results over rhetoric. Aucoin’s career has been defined by measurable outcomes and efficient management. Her supporters describe her as a “results-driven leader who knows how to get things done without wasting time or money.” She represents a growing movement of Republican candidates in Northern Virginia who emphasize competence and community over partisanship.

For Cassandra Aucoin, public service is not a career but a calling to restore trust between citizens and their government. Her campaign for District 7 is built on the values she has lived family, service, and opportunity and on the conviction that Virginia needs leaders who listen and act with common sense.

Nhan Huynh Leadership Rooted in Service, Freedom, and the American Dream

In Fairfax County’s 9th House District, Nhan Huynh, a first-generation immigrant, U.S. Army veteran, and single father of three, is running for the Virginia House of Delegates with a message of freedom, fairness, and resilience. His campaign motto "Parents First, Protect our Environment, Protect our Livelihood captures both his priorities and his life story, one shaped by hardship, service, and gratitude toward the country that gave his family refuge from communism.

“I’m running because I care,” Huynh says plainly. “As a first-generation immigrant, I want us to have the economic freedom to succeed with less taxes and fewer restrictions. As a U.S. Army veteran, I want us to have the mental health and healthcare we deserve. As a single parent, I want my children to be safe from crime and fentanyl, and to afford to raise them with a lower cost of living.”

Huynh’s story begins in postwar Vietnam. Born several years after the fall of Saigon, he witnessed firsthand the consequences of dictatorship and state control. His mother, an educator in the Republic of Vietnam, was sent to a forced labor zone known as a “new economic zone,” while his father, a soldier for the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, was imprisoned in a re-education camp. “I grew up sickly and malnourished,” Huynh recalls, “and saw how censorship, famine, and discrimination destroyed lives.” His parents eventually escaped communist Vietnam, seeking refuge in the United States.

Arriving in America with nothing but the clothes on their backs, the Huynh family rebuilt their lives with the help of churches, temples, and local charities. “It was Republican policies promoting equal opportunities and economic freedom that enabled us to prosper,” Huynh reflects. “Those experiences gave me a deep belief in hard work, duty, and responsibility.” Within years, he mastered English, earned admission to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, and later graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in engineering.

The terrorist attacks of 9/11 changed the trajectory of his life. Driven by gratitude, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and attended Officer Candidate School, seeking to give back to the nation that had given his family a future. An injury during training ended his service prematurely, but his commitment to public service continued. He volunteered with FEMA after disasters like Hurricanes Katrina, Sandy, and Harvey and worked in IT consulting for the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), NASA, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

When his parents passed away, Huynh became the primary caregiver of his three children. He now raises them alone while working in technology and community outreach. “I understand the struggles of being poor, alone, and needing help,” he says. “That’s why I want to represent families like mine people who work hard, sacrifice, and just want a fair chance.”

Huynh’s priorities reflect his lived experience. As a single parent and Thomas Jefferson alumnus, he emphasizes parents’ rights and transparency in education. He supports school choice, opposes ideological instruction, and calls for expanding advanced learning opportunities across Fairfax County, not just at selective schools. “Parents should be informed and involved in what their children are taught,” he insists. “We need more options for advanced education not less.”

His second focus is environmental protection. Citing state data that Northern Virginia hosts nearly 50% of America’s data centers, Huynh warns of the strain they cause from energy demand and noise to water shortages and declining property values. He notes that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors reapproved its zoning ordinance (zMOD) without proper public review, enabling by-right construction of data centers near homes. “As your delegate,” he pledges, “I will ensure residents’ voices are heard and regulations are in place to protect our neighborhoods.”

Public safety and quality of life form the third pillar of his platform. Huynh highlights alarming statistics: over 90% of opioid-related deaths in Fairfax since 2020 involve fentanyl, and overall property crimes have risen nearly 20% from 2021 to 2022. He proposes funding a dedicated Fentanyl Task Force, increasing police staffing noting that Fairfax remains short nearly 200 officers and expanding mental health services to make support accessible and stigma-free. “We must fight fentanyl at the source and support the officers who keep us safe,” he says.

On the economy, Huynh advocates for reducing taxes and tackling affordability challenges. He calls for eliminating the car tax, describing it as “one of the most unfair burdens on Fairfax families.” With local drivers taxed at 4.57% of their car’s value annually, he argues that “owning a car is not a luxury it’s a necessity.” He also proposes incentivizing affordable housing construction, cutting bureaucratic red tape, and creating workforce homes for teachers, first responders, and young families. “Everyone who works in Fairfax should be able to live in Fairfax,” he says.

Huynh’s candidacy has drawn broad conservative support. He is endorsed by Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, Attorney General Jason Miyares, John Reid, Rich Anderson, and national organizations including Veterans for America First. Earle-Sears praised his “common-sense, no-nonsense approach to leadership,” while Miyares called him “the kind of leader who will stand up for victims, back law enforcement, and make Fairfax safer.” Veterans for America First described Huynh as “an embodiment of the American Dream and a voice against socialism.”

For Huynh, politics is not about partisanship but about gratitude and duty. “I want to restore America’s freedoms, opportunities, and the American Dream that I knew existed,” he says. “I’ll work for every Virginian to make our state safer, more affordable, and free again.”

Saundra Davis Leadership Grounded in Service, Accountability, and Parental Rights

Saundra Davis, the Republican candidate for Virginia’s House of Delegates District 15, represents portions of Fairfax County including Burke. As a mother, healthcare professional, and military spouse, Davis brings both personal and professional experience to one of Northern Virginia’s most competitive races. Her campaign embodies a return to accountability, parental rights, and practical solutions values that have defined her advocacy across Fairfax County for more than a decade.

Raised in a military family and later a military spouse, Davis understands service, sacrifice, and the discipline that public life demands. Professionally, she built her career in healthcare management, earning dual master’s degrees in Health Care Administration and Gerontology from the University of Southern California (USC), and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Colorado State University. She currently serves on the Virginia Public Guardian and Conservator Advisory Board, where she helps oversee protections for citizens who can no longer care for themselves work that reflects her belief that leadership begins with compassion and integrity.

Davis’s path into public life began as a parent. Thirteen years ago, she and her family chose Fairfax County for its strong schools, only to watch educational standards decline under partisan policies and bureaucratic control. During the COVID-19 crisis, when public schools remained closed, Davis helped lead a grassroots movement to reopen classrooms safely, becoming a key voice for transparency and parental inclusion in decision-making. That experience shaped her reputation as a parental rights advocate willing to challenge powerful institutions to defend students and families.

“Fairfax County deserves leadership that listens, that solves problems, and that doesn’t shy away from doing the right thing even when it’s hard,” Davis said at her campaign launch.

Her campaign slogan “Lower Taxes, Better Schools, Safer Neighborhoods” summarizes her three policy priorities and her broader vision for restoring common sense in Richmond.

In the area of education, Davis calls for a renewed focus on academic excellence, literacy, and parental involvement. She supports school choice and opposes ideological agendas in the classroom, arguing that every child deserves a strong start “free from politics.” Her platform includes independent oversight of school budgets, increased accountability for performance outcomes, and a clear line of communication between educators and families.

On affordability, Davis has made tax relief a central promise, beginning with eliminating Virginia’s unpopular car tax. She also pledges to block unnecessary local taxes and wasteful spending that burden working families. Her approach to fiscal policy mirrors her background in healthcare administration where efficiency and ethics must coexist. “Every dollar government wastes is a dollar taken from a family’s budget,” she says, emphasizing that affordability is a moral as well as economic concern.

Public safety is the third pillar of her campaign. Backed by the Virginia Police Benevolent Association, Davis supports law enforcement with stronger resources and fair compensation, alongside mental health initiatives to prevent repeat offenses. “Families deserve safe neighborhoods, and officers deserve leaders who stand with them,” she says, framing safety as both a community and moral responsibility.

Unlike career politicians, Davis’s record shows that she has already stood up to entrenched interests in Fairfax County. She has challenged the School Board over transparency, confronted the Board of Supervisors on fiscal mismanagement, and testified before legislative committees in Richmond. Her critics often underestimate her, but even opponents recognize her tenacity and preparation.

“She knows what it means to fight for taxpayers, students, and families and she won’t back down in Richmond,” said a Fairfax supporter.

Davis’s campaign contrasts sharply with that of incumbent Laura Jane Cohen, a former Fairfax County School Board member who supported extended school closures during COVID-19. For many voters, the difference is clear: Cohen represents the system that failed parents; Davis represents those who refused to give up on their children.

Her endorsements reflect that broad trust. Davis is supported by the Fairfax County Republican Committee, Attorney General Jason Miyares (R), Lieutenant Governor Winsome Sears (R), the Virginia Police Benevolent Association, The America First Caucus, and notably Ed Nuttall, a former Democratic candidate for Fairfax Commonwealth’s Attorney a bipartisan show of confidence rare in today’s polarized environment.

For Davis, leadership means service grounded in moral clarity and practical problem-solving. Whether managing care for vulnerable patients, advocating for parents, or testifying before public officials, her record reflects one theme: integrity under pressure. Her campaign, focused on restoring trust and accountability, has drawn attention well beyond Fairfax County as a model for the next generation of community-based conservatism.

In a county weary of bureaucracy and partisanship, Saundra Davis stands as a reminder that effective governance begins with listening and that courage in local politics can still change the course of state leadership.

Adam Wise Leadership Rooted in Constitutional and Fiscal Principles

Adam Wise, the Republican candidate for Virginia’s House of Delegates District 11 representing the City of Fairfax and portions of Fairfax County, has built his campaign on principles of constitutional governance and fiscal restraint rather than party slogans. Describing himself as “a regular person, just minding my own business,” Wise says his life changed forever in 2008. While exercising at the gym, he saw President George W. Bush considering massive bank bailouts and immediately thought, “Wait a minute. We learned about this in economics class. You’re not supposed to do that.” He prayed it would not happen, but it did. Later that same year, he saw Barack Obama promising universal healthcare. “That’s Socialist,” he thought. “Certainly America isn’t going to vote for this guy.” When the country did, he realized something fundamental had gone wrong.

That realization marked the beginning of a sixteen-year journey of self-education. Wise began studying the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Founding Fathers’ writings, and American economic theory, particularly the Austrian School’s defense of free markets and limited government. He immersed himself in educational podcasts, taught civic and economic principles in local settings, and worked at nonprofits advancing constitutional ideas. Over the years, this self-directed education shaped him into what he calls a “citizen-scholar” a person trained not in political ambition, but in the study of what made America free. “If we forget why America worked,” Wise explains, “we will forget how to fix it.”

After attending a candidate-interest meeting, Wise discovered that no one was running against the incumbent in his district. “People didn’t even have an option to vote for someone else,” he said. Encouraged by local leaders and guided by prayer, he decided to step forward not out of career aspiration, but out of duty. For him, the essence of leadership lies in accountability, not in authority.

Wise’s campaign slogan, “It’s your money! Keep as much of it, as possible!” defines both his economic and moral outlook. He argues that every dollar earned by citizens is a form of personal freedom and every dollar taken by the government should be justified by necessity. Unlike career politicians who view tax revenue as a permanent entitlement, Wise sees it as a temporary trust. His fiscal agenda calls for reducing the tax burden on families and businesses, eliminating wasteful government programs, opposing all tax and fee increases, and promoting policies that allow citizens to keep more of their earnings. “It’s your money,” he says. “It’s not the government’s money. It’s not the politicians’ money.”

This fiscal view is inseparable from his constitutional philosophy. Having spent years studying the Founders’ writings and intent, Wise insists that government must function within the limits set by the Constitution. Every piece of legislation, he says, must be tested against that standard. His constitutional initiatives include ensuring all laws comply with constitutional limits, protecting individual rights and property rights, and restoring both federalism and state sovereignty principles that have eroded under bureaucratic expansion. “The government that governs least, governs best,” he often reminds supporters, quoting the American republican tradition that shaped his worldview.

Economically, Wise’s approach is equally consistent. He opposes bailouts, subsidies, and corporate welfare, believing they distort the market and breed dependency. Having witnessed the 2008 financial crisis and subsequent government intervention, he argues that economic prosperity arises from entrepreneurship, competition, and innovation not from state control. His free-market vision seeks to remove unnecessary regulations, expand opportunity for small businesses, and restore faith in private enterprise.

In education, Wise calls for the restoration of constitutional literacy and parental rights in public schools. He advocates for school choice, the removal of political ideology from classrooms, and a renewed focus on literacy, civics, and America’s founding principles. “Education,” he argues, “should prepare students for freedom, not dependence.” His proposals seek to return academic focus to fundamentals rather than agendas, ensuring that future generations understand both their rights and their responsibilities as citizens.

Wise’s record is that of a man who studied first and acted later. Over sixteen years, he built a framework of ideas that precedes his candidacy and informs every aspect of his platform. As a constitutional scholar, economic educator, and conservative advocate, he brings a discipline rarely found in modern politics. His campaign emphasizes principle over popularity, process over performance, and substance over style.

When asked why he chose to run, Wise’s answer is simple: “After sixteen years of study, I realized that if we keep waiting for someone else to defend these principles, we may wait forever.” His candidacy is therefore less about political competition and more about civic restoration the belief that the American experiment, grounded in limited government and individual liberty, can still be renewed.

Wise’s vision for Virginia is rooted in the same foundation that guided the Founders: fiscal responsibility, constitutional integrity, and individual freedom. “Northern Virginia,” he says, “deserves leadership that knows why America worked and how to make it work again.”

You can find all official voting information on the Virginia Department of Elections 

website: elections.virginia.gov

• “Find Your Polling Place” → Enter your home address to locate your polling station and see its operating hours.

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campaign activity is allowed on Election Day in Virginia, as long as it follows state election laws.

Specifically:

• You may campaign outside the 40-foot (12-meter) boundary of any polling place. Within 40 feet, all campaigning is strictly prohibited.

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