Virginia's 8th congressional district

Virginia's 8th congressional district is a U.S. congressional district located just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. It comprises several populous cities and suburbs in Northern Virginia, including all of Alexandria, Arlington, and Falls Church, as well as parts of eastern Fairfax County. It has been represented by Democrat Don Beyer since 2015. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of D+26, it is the most Democratic district in Virginia.

The 8th district is heavily influenced by the federal government in neighboring Washington, with nearly a quarter of its working population employed in the public sector. Though commuting into the nation's capital for work is common, several government agencies have their headquarters in the 8th district. The most prominent of these are the United States Department of Defense (located in the Pentagon) and the Central Intelligence Agency. Their presence has established a flourishing aerospace and defense industry in the area, with Northrop Grumman being one of the district's top private sector employers. Other major corporations are also located within its boundaries, most notably AES.

The seat has long been a liberal stronghold, having backed every Democratic presidential nominee since 1992. However, those margins have grown dramatically; in 2020, Joe Biden carried the 8th district by over 55 points. Once a popular destination for white flight, the district has seen an influx of Asian, Black, and Hispanic residents in recent years and is now majority nonwhite. It also has the nation's fifth-highest share of individuals with a bachelor's degree or higher, in large part due to the nearby government presence.

Recent election results from statewide races Year Office Results2008 PresidentObama 68% - 31% SenateWarner 74% - 25%2009 GovernorDeeds 60% - 40% Lt. GovernorWagner 62% - 38% Attorney GeneralShannon 62% - 38%2012 PresidentObama 67% - 31% SenateKaine 69% - 31%2013 GovernorMcAuliffe 68% - 27% Lt. GovernorNortham 73% - 36% Attorney GeneralHerring 70% - 29%2014 SenateWarner 67% - 31%2016 PresidentClinton 72% - 21%2017 GovernorNortham 76% - 23% Lt. GovernorFairfax 75% - 25% Attorney GeneralHerring 75% - 25%2018 SenateKaine 78% - 19%2020 PresidentBiden 77% - 21% SenateWarner 76% - 24%2021 GovernorMcAuliffe 72% - 27% Lt. GovernorAyala 73% - 27% Attorney GeneralHerring 73% - 27%2024 PresidentHarris 73% - 24% SenateKaine 75% - 25%2025 GovernorSpanberger 80% - 20% Lt. GovernorHashmi 78% - 22% Attorney GeneralJones 74% - 25%

Demographics As of 2000, the district has 643,503 residents, 13.7% are African American, 9.5% are Asian, 16.4% are Hispanic and 64.5% are white.

Virginia's eighth congressional district is traditionally a Democratic stronghold, most notably in the urban communities of Arlington and Alexandria.

Composition For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties and communities:

Arlington County (1)

Arlington

Fairfax County (24)

Annandale, Bailey's Crossroads, Belle Haven, Fort Belvoir, Fort Hunt, Franconia (part; also 11th), Groveton, Hayfield, Huntington, Hybla Valley, Idylwood, Kingstowne, Lake Barcroft, Lincolnia, Mason Neck, McLean (part; also 11th), Mount Vernon, North Springfield, Pimmit Hills, Rose Hill, Seven Corners, Springfield (part; also 11th), West Falls Church, Woodlawn

Independent cities (2)

Alexandria, Falls Church

Elections since 1960 1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

List of members representing the district

Representative Party Years Congress Electoral history District established March 4, 1789 Josiah Parker Anti-Administration March 4, 1789 –March 3, 1793 Elected in 1789.Re-elected in 1790.Elected to Virginia 11th District Thomas Claiborne Anti-Administration March 4, 1793 –March 3, 1795 Elected in 1793.Re-elected in 1795.Re-elected in 1797.Lost re-election. Democratic-Republican March 4, 1795 –March 3, 1799 Samuel Goode Democratic-Republican March 4, 1799 –March 3, 1801 Elected in 1799. Thomas Claiborne Democratic-Republican March 4, 1801 –March 3, 1803 Elected in 1801.Redistricted to the . Walter Jones Democratic-Republican March 4, 1803 –March 3, 1811 Elected in 1803.Re-elected in 1805.Re-elected in 1807.Re-elected in 1809.Retired. John Hungerford Democratic-Republican March 4, 1811 –November 29, 1811 Elected in 1811.Lost election contest. John Taliaferro Democratic-Republican November 29, 1811 –March 3, 1813 Won election contest.Redistricted to the and lost re-election. Joseph Lewis Jr. Federalist March 4, 1813 –March 3, 1817 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1813.Re-elected in 1815.Retired. Charles F. Mercer Federalist March 4, 1817 –March 3, 1823 Elected in 1817.Re-elected in 1819.Re-elected in 1821.Redistricted to the . Burwell Bassett Democratic-Republican (Crawford) March 4, 1823 –March 3, 1825 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1823.Re-elected in 1825.Re-elected in 1827.Lost re-election. Jackson March 4, 1825 –March 3, 1829 Richard Coke Jr. Jackson March 4, 1829 –March 3, 1833 Elected in 1829.Re-elected in 1831.Retired. Henry A. Wise Jackson March 4, 1833 –March 3, 1837 Elected in 1833.Re-elected in 1835.Re-elected in 1837.Re-elected in 1839.Re-elected in 1841.Redistricted to the . Whig March 4, 1837 –March 3, 1843 Willoughby Newton Whig March 4, 1843 –March 3, 1845 Elected in 1843.Lost re-election. Robert M. T. Hunter Whig March 4, 1845 –March 3, 1847 Elected in 1845.Elected to U.S. Senate Richard L. T. Beale Democratic March 4, 1847 –March 3, 1849 Elected in 1847.Retired. Alexander R. Holladay Democratic March 4, 1849 –March 3, 1853 Elected in 1849.Re-elected in 1851.Retired. Charles J. Faulkner, Sr. Democratic March 4, 1853 –March 3, 1859 Elected in 1853.Re-elected in 1855.Re-elected in 1857.Appointed Minister to France. Alexander R. Boteler Opposition March 4, 1859 –March 3, 1861 Elected in 1859.Retired. District inactive March 4, 1861 –January 28, 1870 Civil War and Reconstruction James K. Gibson Conservative January 28, 1870 –March 3, 1871 Elected in 1870.Retired. William Terry Democratic March 4, 1871 –March 3, 1873 Elected in 1870.Lost re-election. Eppa Hunton Democratic March 4, 1873 –March 3, 1881 Elected in 1872.Re-elected in 1874.Re-elected in 1876.Re-elected in 1878.Retired. John S. Barbour Jr. Democratic March 4, 1881 –March 3, 1887 Elected in 1880.Re-elected in 1882.Re-elected in 1884.Retired. William H. F. Lee Democratic March 4, 1887 –October 15, 1891 Elected in 1886.Re-elected in 1888.Re-elected in 1890.Died. Vacant October 16, 1891 –December 8, 1891 Elisha E. Meredith Democratic December 9, 1891 –March 3, 1897 Elected to finish Lee's term.Re-elected in 1892.Re-elected in 1894.Retired. John F. Rixey Democratic March 4, 1897 –February 8, 1907 Elected in 1896.Re-elected in 1898.Re-elected in 1900.Re-elected in 1902.Re-elected in 1904.Re-elected in 1906.Died. Vacant February 9, 1907 –November 4, 1907 Charles C. Carlin Democratic November 5, 1907 –March 3, 1919 Elected to finish Rixley's term.Re-elected in 1908.Re-elected in 1910.Re-elected in 1912.Re-elected in 1914.Re-elected in 1916.Re-elected in 1918.Resigned. Vacant March 4, 1919 –April 26, 1919 R. Walton Moore Democratic April 27, 1919 –March 3, 1931 Elected to finish Carlin's term.Re-elected in 1920.Re-elected in 1922.Re-elected in 1924.Re-elected in 1926.Re-elected in 1928.Retired. Howard W. Smith Democratic March 4, 1931 –March 3, 1933 Elected in 1930.Redistricted to the . District inactive March 4, 1933 –January 3, 1935 Howard W. Smith Democratic January 3, 1935 –January 3, 1967 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1934.Re-elected in 1936.Re-elected in 1938.Re-elected in 1940.Re-elected in 1942.Re-elected in 1944.Re-elected in 1946.Re-elected in 1948.Re-elected in 1950.Re-elected in 1952.Re-elected in 1954.Re-elected in 1956.Re-elected in 1958.Re-elected in 1960.Re-elected in 1962.Re-elected in 1964.Lost re-election. William L. Scott Republican January 3, 1967 –January 3, 1973 Elected in 1966.Re-elected in 1968.Re-elected in 1970.Elected to U.S. Senate. Stanford Parris Republican January 3, 1973 –January 3, 1975 Elected in 1972.Lost re-election. Herbert E. Harris Democratic January 3, 1975 –January 3, 1981 Elected in 1974.Re-elected in 1976.Re-elected in 1978.Lost re-election. Stanford Parris Republican January 3, 1981 –January 3, 1991 Elected in 1980.Re-elected in 1982.Re-elected in 1984.Re-elected in 1986.Re-elected in 1988.Lost re-election. Jim Moran Democratic January 3, 1991 –January 3, 2015 Elected in 1990.Re-elected in 1992.Re-elected in 1994.Re-elected in 1996.Re-elected in 1998.Re-elected in 2000.Re-elected in 2002.Re-elected in 2004.Re-elected in 2006.Re-elected in 2008.Re-elected in 2010.Re-elected in 2012.Retired. Don Beyer Democratic January 3, 2015 –present Elected in 2014.Re-elected in 2016.Re-elected in 2018.Re-elected in 2020.Re-elected in 2022.Re-elected in 2024.

Historical district boundaries The Virginia Eighth District started in 1788 covering the counties of Norfolk, Accomack, Northampton, Princess Anne, Nansemond, Isle of Wight, Surry and Southampton.Statute of 20 November 1788

Virginia's 8th congressional district

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