Fairfax city attorney J. Chapman Petersen has filed paperwork with the Virginia Board of Elections to challenge incumbent state Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites Davis, R-Vienna.
Political observers expect the race in the 34th Senate District to be among the year’s most competitive, as Northern Virginia has voted increasingly Democratic in recent elections.
All 100 seats in the House of Delegates and 40 Senate seats are on the ballot this year.
The 38-year-old Petersen jumped into Virginia politics in 2001, capturing 52 percent of the vote and dethroning Del. John Rust, R-Fairfax, in the 37th House District.
He trounced Rust in a 2003 rematch.
In 2005, Petersen decided to give up his House seat to run for lieutenant governor but finished third in a four-way primary.
Republicans control the state Senate by a 23-17 margin, but Democrats are targeting several Northern Virginia Republican-held districts for the fall’s election, hoping to pick up the four seats they need for a majority.
“[Democrat David Bulova] has my old House seat, so this race is my opportunity,” Petersen told The Examiner. “It will be nice to be running as the underdog against an opponent again. I am comfortable in that role.”
Petersen said his campaign issues will include improving the region’s transportation system and cutting the car tax for Fairfax County residents.
Davis was elected to the Senate in 2003 after serving three terms in the House, where she became the first woman to serve in a leadership position when she was elected House majority whip.
The 34th District covers Fairfax city and parts of Fairfax County, including Vienna and Oakton.
