FAIRFAX, VA – In the heart of Fairfax County, the special election for the Braddock District School Board seat has taken an unexpected turn, pitting transparency and ideological consistency against political alliances. At the center of the storm is Democratic-endorsed candidate Tom Dannan, whose professional ties to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have raised eyebrows among voters, particularly in a county known for its progressive leanings on immigration issues. Facing off against him is Saundra Davis, a community advocate emphasizing student outcomes, fiscal responsibility, and parental rights.
The race, with early voting underway from January 16 to February 28, 2026, comes at a time when Fairfax County schools are grappling with budget deficits, policy controversies, and national debates over immigration enforcement. Dannan, a Fairfax resident and small business owner, has positioned himself as a moderate voice focused on education reform. However, recent revelations about his employment with R3 Consulting—a firm providing critical services to ICE—have sparked questions about his candor and the motivations behind his campaign.
Archived records from R3 Consulting’s website, preserved on archive.org, show Dannan’s profile detailing his leadership of multiple teams supporting ICE initiatives.
Before December 31st.
After December 31st.
These efforts reportedly include operational support for immigration enforcement programs across the country. Yet, in a curious development, Dannan’s profile has been scrubbed from the company’s current site. Sources close to the race speculate: Is Dannan distancing himself from this work out of embarrassment, or was it a deliberate move to obscure his affiliations during a heated election? R3 Consulting, a government contractor specializing in technology and advisory services, continues to employ Dannan, and he remains actively involved in ICE-related projects, according to public records and insider accounts.
This disclosure couldn’t come at a more awkward time for Dannan’s backers. Prominent Fairfax Democrats, including James Walkinshaw, have endorsed him despite full knowledge of his ICE connections. Walkinshaw, a vocal critic of federal immigration policies under previous administrations, has championed sanctuary-like measures in the county. Fairfax County itself has a history of limiting cooperation with ICE, as evidenced by a 2022 school board policy restricting the sharing of student information with immigration authorities. More recently, the Department of Homeland Security called out Fairfax politicians for failing to honor ICE detainers on criminal illegal immigrants, highlighting tensions between local progressives and federal enforcement.
Republicans and conservative-leaning independents in the district are seizing on this apparent hypocrisy. “Democrats rail against ICE raids, family separations, and border policies, yet they’re lining up behind a candidate who’s profited from supporting the very agency they decry,” said local GOP activist Maria Gonzalez during a recent town hall. “With recent national turmoil—shootings, raids, and heated debates over immigration—how can they justify this? It’s a betrayal of their own principles.
“Davis, Dannan’s opponent, has made transparency a cornerstone of her campaign. A former candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates and Fairfax School Board at-large, she has highlighted Dannan’s selective disclosure. On X (formerly Twitter), Davis posted: “My Braddock School Board opponent ‘started a small business,’ according to his website. But here’s the question: Why doesn’t he mention a day job? Think carefully before voting for someone who shares only partial facts.” Davis’s platform prioritizes student-first policies, including enhanced privacy protections, fiscal accountability amid the district’s $300 million deficit, and opposition to what she calls “ideological overreach” in schools, such as controversial gender policies that have drawn federal scrutiny.
The Braddock District, encompassing diverse communities in Fairfax, has seen its share of education battles. Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) recently shifted from a $200 million surplus to a massive shortfall, attributed by critics to bloated administrative spending, DEI initiatives, and extravagant programs like $800,000 for boys’ volleyball and girls’ wrestling. Republicans argue this mismanagement exemplifies Democratic priorities gone awry, funneling funds away from core education toward bureaucratic expansion. Dannan’s ICE ties add fuel to the fire, suggesting a disconnect between Democratic rhetoric on compassion and their support for candidates embedded in enforcement mechanisms.
Voters face a stark choice: Back Dannan, whose endorsements from figures like Walkinshaw, Rachna Heizer, and Jeff McKay signal establishment approval but raise questions of consistency, or opt for Davis, who promises unfiltered accountability. As one voter told this reporter, “If Democrats are so angry about ICE, why endorse someone who’s part of it? It smells like politics as usual.
“With the election culminating on March 3, 2026, the race underscores broader national divides. In a county where immigration is a flashpoint, Dannan’s scrubbed profile and ongoing ICE work could alienate progressive voters, while bolstering conservative turnout. As America grapples with border security and school governance, Braddock’s contest may preview how such issues play out in suburban battlegrounds.
For now, the question lingers: Are Fairfax Democrats willing to overlook ICE affiliations for political expediency? The answer could reshape local education—and signal shifts in party loyalty.
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