Stella Pekarsky
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Stella Pekarsky | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Virginia Senate from the 36th district | |
| Assumed office January 10, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Scott Surovell (redistricted) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 23, 1979 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Pavel Pekarsky |
| Education | George Mason University (BA, MEd) |
Stella G. Pekarsky (born April 23, 1979) is an American politician. A Democrat, she has represented the 36th district in the Virginia Senate since 2024. She previously was a member of the Fairfax County School Board.
Pekarsky was born on April 23, 1979.[1] She graduated from George Mason University with a Bachelor of Arts in government and politics and a Masters of Education.[2]
Career
Pekarsky served as a member of the Fairfax County Public Schools board.[3]
Virginia State Senate
2023 election
Pekarsky announced her candidacy in 2023 against Democrat George Barker, who had previously represented the 39th district, which, because of redistricting, now covered the newly made 36th district. On June 21, Pekarsky pulled an upset victory defeating the sitting State Senator in a 52%-47% victory.[4][5]
In the general election, she faced Julie Perry, a high school teacher at Centreville High School. On November 7, Pekarsky defeated Perry in a 60%-38% victory.[6]
2026 congressional campaign
On May 7, 2025, Pekarsky announced that she would run for the U.S. House of Representatives in Virginia's 11th congressional district, seeking to succeed the retiring incumbent, Gerry Connolly. Connolly later died on May 21, 2025.[7] Pekarsky subsequently announced her candidacy for the special election to fill the seat, finishing third in the June 28 firehouse primary, receiving 13.4% of the vote.[8]
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Stella Pekarsky | 20,355 | 58.45 | |
| Republican | Thomas Wilson | 14,383 | 41.30 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Stella Pekarsky | 8,083 | 52.47 | |
| Democratic | George Barker | 7,322 | 47.53 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Stella Pekarsky | 36,802 | 60.85 | |
| Republican | Julie Perry | 23,458 | 38.78 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | James Walkinshaw | 22,403 | 59.64% | |
| Democratic | Irene Shin | 5,368 | 14.29% | |
| Democratic | Stella Pekarsky | 5,043 | 13.43% | |
| Democratic | Amy Roma | 2,697 | 7.18% | |
| Democratic | Dan Lee | 710 | 1.89% | |
| Democratic | Leopoldo Martínez Nucete | 498 | 1.33% | |
| Democratic | Amy Papanu | 396 | 1.05% | |
| Democratic | Priya Punnoose | 232 | 0.62% | |
| Democratic | Candice Bennett | 190 | 0.51% | |
| Democratic | Ross William Branstetter IV | 25 | 0.07% | |
| Total votes | 37,562 | 100.00% | ||
