Northern Virginia Casino Spurs Differing Views From Democratic Lt. Governor Candidates
Posted on: May 26, 2025, 12:00h.
Last updated on: May 26, 2025, 12:00h.
- Six Democrats are seeking their party’s ticket to run for lieutenant governor in Virginia
- The candidates have differing views on a casino in Northern Virginia
- Legislation to designate Fairfax County for a casino stalled earlier this year
The six Democratic candidates seeking to take on Republican nominee John Reid in the 2025 Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election present differing views regarding allowing a casino resort to come to the northern part of the commonwealth.
Last Thursday, the Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial field participated in a televised debate hosted by WJLA 7News in partnership with the Northern Virginia Democratic Black Caucus. Two of the Democratic front-runners, former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney and state Sen. Aaron Rouse (D-Virginia Beach), are Black.
With early voting for the June 17 Democratic primary underway, Thursday night’s debate provided insights for state residents to determine which candidate is best fit for their vote. A range of topics were covered, with the ongoing Tysons casino discussed.
Stoney, who was mayor of Richmond when voters there twice rejected a casino proposal, one he heavily fought for, said he is against a casino in Tysons because of widespread opposition. However, he isn’t closing the door to a casino somewhere else in Fairfax County.
I am open to a casino in Northern Virginia, but is this the site? No,” Stoney said in reference to Tysons, an unincorporated part of the county that’s home to several Fortune 500 companies.
Earlier this year, legislation to designate Fairfax for a single commercial casino resort passed the Virginia Senate with a 24-16 vote. The bill, led by Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (R-Fairfax), later stalled in the House of Delegates.
Fairfax Needs New Revenue Streams
Located just 15 miles northwest of the Nation’s Capital, the Potomac River’s Great Falls is a popular natural attraction within Fairfax County. Some elected leaders representing Fairfax say the county needs a rush of new tax revenue that has the same tenacity and perpetual flow as the Mather Gorge.
Dwindling property taxes, largely stemming from office landlords successfully contesting their building valuations as rents and leases declined in COVID-19’s aftermath, have led to revenue concerns.
Surovell and the Fairfax County casino legislation’s previous author, state Sen. David Marsden (D-Fairfax), along with other state lawmakers supporting a possible gaming development in Northern Virginia, including Sens. Lamont Bagby (D-Henrico), Stella Pekarsky (D-Fairfax), and Todd Pillion (R-Washington), say a casino referendum would simply give county voters an option. The lawmakers warn that if new economic activity isn’t brought to the county, homeowners could see tax hikes.
Rouse, who with Stoney is a polling favorite for the Democratic lieutenant governor ticket, said Thursday that further consideration is needed regarding slots and table games, as well as controversial skill games.
I think it’s important to understand the entirety of the issue in terms of dealing with casinos and skill gaming. I never like Richmond telling us what to do, so I supported legislation giving the localities the option to decide to put on a referendum to decide whether or not they will want a casino,” Rouse said.
State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi (D-Chesterfield), who is trailing Stoney and Rouse in the polls but is viewed as a contender, said she supports “legislation that provides good union jobs” and “enables an economy to grow.” However, she refused to fully embrace a casino referendum.
Local Opposition
Public polling suggests a majority of Fairfax County voters oppose the casino push. A poll commissioned by the Tysons Stakeholders Alliance released in January concluded that more than six in 10 county voters oppose slots and table games, and almost eight in 10 residents in the census-designated Tysons don’t want a casino.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, numerous homeowners groups, municipal governments, and former federal intelligence workers have also come out in opposition to a casino referendum.
The eventual Democratic lieutenant governor nominee will take on Republican Reid during the Nov. 4 general election. Reid won the GOP nod by default after Fairfax County Supervisor Pat Herrity withdrew due to health reasons.
Reid, a radio host, would become Virginia’s first openly gay lieutenant governor if elected. Current Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R) is not seeking reelection to instead run for governor.
In Virginia, the governor and lieutenant governor are elected separately every four years. Unlike the governorship, which is limited to a single four-year term, the lieutenant governor is not term-limited.
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