Virginia's 8th District · 2026
Integrity.
Courage.
Commitment.
A U.S. Navy veteran, licensed Professional Engineer, and Northern Virginia mom — running for Congress in Virginia's 8th District to bring honest leadership back to our community.
What I'm Fighting For
Stronger Families
Supporting parents, seniors, and working families across our community.
Economic Opportunity
Growing jobs, supporting small businesses, lowering the cost of living.
Safe Communities
Backing our first responders and keeping our neighborhoods safe.
Quality Education
Investing in our schools and putting parents at the center of decisions.
Responsible Leadership
Fiscal accountability, transparency, and common-sense solutions.
About Shelly
A neighbor. A leader. A voice for us.
Shelly Arnoldi is a U.S. Navy veteran, licensed Professional Engineer, and accomplished leader with more than 27 years of experience managing major facilities and construction projects for the military, Department of Defense schools, and cultural institutions such as the Smithsonian and the National Gallery of Art.
Born and raised in Wisconsin, Shelly earned her engineering degree at Marquette University on a ROTC scholarship before completing a master's in environmental engineering at Old Dominion University. She came to Northern Virginia in 2010 and has raised her family here — two daughters and two stepsons, all of whom attended Fairfax County Public Schools.
She is a lifelong runner and triathlete, a proud wife and mother, and a Catholic whose faith and discipline shape her commitment to public service.
Integrity ensures that leaders act with honesty, transparency, and accountability — always putting the needs of their constituents above personal or political gain.Shelly ArnoldiOn the Qualities of Public Service
Commonwealth of Virginia · Official Ballot Petition
Form ELECT-506/521 · Petition of Qualified Voters
Put Shelly on the ballot.
To appear on the ballot in Virginia's 8th Congressional District, Shelly must collect signatures from registered voters from anywhere in Virginia. Adding your name takes a moment — and it does not commit you to vote for her.
- Print Double-Sided. Petitions must be printed on both sides of a single sheet. Forms printed on one side only will not be accepted.
- Virginia Voters Only. Collect signatures from registered voters anywhere in Virginia - not just your local district. Signatures from out-of-state voters will be rejected.
- Circulators Can’t Sign. As the circulator you cannot be a signer. Ask another circulator to collect your signature if you’d like to sign.
- Filling Out the Form. Complete in blue or black ink: full legal name, registered address with city/state/ZIP, and last 4 digits of SSN (optional).
- Circulator Affidavit. Personally witness every signature, then complete the Circulator Affidavit on the back page before a notary.
- Deadline & Goal. 1,000 valid signatures due in Richmond by August 4. Collect 1,500–2,000 to safely account for rejections.
- Arrange Drop-Off. Contact Shelly to arrange drop-off. Signatures must be dated on or after January 1, 2026.
The Work Ahead
Priorities for Virginia's 8th.
Strong Schools, Strong Families
Put parents back at the center of their children's education. Defend parental rights. Ensure our schools return to teaching the fundamentals while respecting family values.
Lower Taxes, More Opportunity
Cut taxes and red tape that hurt small businesses so our local economy can thrive. Hold data centers responsible for their own energy and water — not at the expense of working families.
Honest, Accountable Government
Term limits. Transparent budgets. An end to the influence of special interests over the needs of constituents. I've signed the U.S. Term Limits pledge — and I'll keep it.
Safe Communities
Stand with our first responders. Enforce the laws on the books. Keep Northern Virginia the kind of place families want to raise children and seniors want to retire.
Upcoming Events
All Events →In the Media
Shelly Speaks.
Jan 1, 2024 · X
Follow on X (Twitter)
Daily commentary on Virginia politics, education, and accountability. 19,800+ posts · @ShellyArnoldi
Aug 30, 2023 · Rumble
Fairfax County School Board Speech
Shelly addresses the school board on parental rights and education policy.
Jan 1, 2023 · YouTube
Shelly Arnoldi on YouTube
Watch Shelly speak on the issues facing Northern Virginia families.
More appearances coming soon — podcasts, forums, and events will be added here as they go live.
Endorsements
Standing with Shelly.
Stand for Health Freedom
Inspiring and empowering individuals to engage in the political process and making it undeniable to both citizens and lawmakers that America still stands for health freedom.
View Endorsement →
Libertarian Party of Northern Virginia
Advancing the ideas of Liberty through social events, community outreach, and running candidates for elected office in the counties of Loudoun, Arlington, and Fairfax including the cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, and Fairfax.
View Endorsement →Get Involved
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