Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Stephen Descano Faces Primary Challenge from Brittany Dunn-Pirio

<p>Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephen Descano is facing a challenge from former federal prosecutor Brittany Dunn-Pirio, who has criticized his record after announcing her candidacy to unseat him.</p><p>Descano, a Democrat, has been criticized for what opponents describe as lenient prosecutorial decisions, especially regarding cases involving illegal immigrant suspects. Dunn-Pirio stated that if there were no systemic issues in Descano's office, she would want to work there.</p><p>"If this office were doing its job, I wouldn’t be running against it. I’d be applying to work for it. But it isn’t," Dunn-Pirio said on her campaign website after media reported her candidacy on Wednesday.</p><p>Dunn-Pirio emphasized that the race is not about whether reform was appropriate, but about the office's ability to differentiate between first-time nonviolent offenders deserving of a second chance and violent or sexual offenders.</p><p>She also highlighted issues such as meeting deadlines, providing evidence to defendants, and communicating with victims.</p><p>Fox News Digital reached out to both Descano and Dunn-Pirio for additional comments.</p><p>Descano's campaign spokesman Nathan Kiker defended the incumbent's record, stating, "Steve Descano has spent his tenure proving that you can reform the justice system and keep our community safe at the same time." He noted that Fairfax County is recognized as the safest large county in the nation due to Descano's focus on accountability and addressing the root causes of crime.</p><p>Dunn-Pirio pointed to instances of mishandled sexual assault cases and a tendency for the justice system to favor the well-connected.</p><p>One case under scrutiny involves Abdul Jalloh, an illegal immigrant from Sierra Leone charged with murdering Stephanie Minter, who was killed at a Hybla Valley bus stop in February after Jalloh had multiple previous arrests.</p><p>Descano has responded to claims that his office allowed Jalloh to remain free, asserting that his prosecutors secured convictions whenever possible.</p><p>Dunn-Pirio previously served as a prosecutor in Frederick County, Virginia, and as a federal prosecutor in Kentucky. She stated that she resigned from the Department of Justice in 2025 after working on COVID-related fraud cases.</p><p>"I couldn’t stomach propping up a system that gave pardons to the well-connected while prosecuting average Americans for the same conduct," she said.</p><p>Dunn-Pirio criticized Descano’s office for failing to serve the community effectively.</p><p>Her campaign website features cases that have drawn public scrutiny of Descano, emphasizing the need for a Commonwealth’s Attorney who can effectively manage the office.</p><p>"Every person in Fairfax should feel safe, and every person in Fairfax should be able to trust the office that’s supposed to protect them," Dunn-Pirio said.</p><p>Descano’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for further comment on Dunn-Pirio’s criticisms.</p><p>Dunn-Pirio, who most recently worked as an associate at a civil litigation firm, has a background in federal prosecution and has been involved in local Democratic politics.</p><p>She stated that she is a lifelong Democrat and her challenge to Descano will first be decided in the Democratic nomination contest ahead of the 2027 election.</p>