Who's running in Virginia's 8th congressional district
4 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
4 candidates · ballot order · Don Beyer currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Protecting federal workers, who make up much of the district's workforce.
Climate policy and clean energy, his long-standing legislative focus.
Abortion rights.
Artificial intelligence policy, the subject of his graduate study.
Arms control and nuclear non-proliferation.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative for the 8th District since January 2015; re-elected in 2024 with 71.5%.
Lieutenant governor of Virginia from 1990 to 1998; United States ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein from 2009 to 2013.
Returned to school at George Mason University for a master's degree in computer science, and has completed the Appalachian Trail.
Won the August 4, 2026 Democratic primary against four challengers.
Is 75 years old.
Arguments in favor
He carries both Virginia senators, Governor Abigail Spanberger, the federal employees' union AFGE, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the League of Conservation Voters, the Council for a Livable World and J Street PAC — and beat a four-candidate primary field organised specifically against him.
— Endorsements from the officials and organisations named; August 2026 primary results
Asked about his age he pointed to a 3.9 grade point average in a computer science master's programme at George Mason and to having walked the Appalachian Trail — a specific answer to the specific charge.
— Don Beyer, reported by ARLnow
Arguments against
Four Democrats ran against him on the argument that he has been in office too long. Daniel Gray, who later withdrew, said geriatric leadership in Congress is dangerous for the party and proposed requiring members to retire at 75 — Beyer's current age — and Mo Seifeldein campaigned as a next-generation leader against "decades of entrenched politics."
— Daniel Gray and Mo Seifeldein, 2026 Democratic primary, reported by ARLnow and the Washington Examiner
Michael Duffin, a State Department counter-terrorism officer whose own job ended in the 2025 federal cuts, ran against him because he thought Beyer was not fighting hard enough for fired federal workers in a district that depends on them.
— Michael Duffin, 2026 Democratic primary, reported by WTOP and the Virginia Mercury
What we couldn’t verify
Both criticisms come from the August Democratic primary rather than the general election. No criticism of Beyer by name from Tony Sabio, the National Republican Congressional Committee, or the independent and Libertarian candidates could be found — all three frame their campaigns as offering an alternative rather than attacking him.
His age is the substance of the primary criticism; his answer to it is recorded alongside. Whether the specific health question behind it has been addressed is not established.
Mo Seifeldein was endorsed by Track AIPAC and the New American Leaders Action Fund, indicating a foreign-policy dimension to the primary that no source stated explicitly.
Replacing long-tenured legislators with people from outside politics.
National security, drawn from his Secret Service and CIA service.
Support for veterans.
Lower taxes and reduced federal spending.
Public safety.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
United States Navy veteran; later served in the Secret Service and the Central Intelligence Agency.
Won the August 4, 2026 Republican primary unopposed.
Reported $21,917 raised, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
The Fairfax County Republican Committee has promoted him as the conservative running to retire Don Beyer, and he was unopposed for the nomination — the only Republican to file in a district his party has not seriously contested in years.
— Fairfax County Republican Committee
Arguments against
He reported $21,917 raised — less than the independent in the race spent of his own money to get on the ballot — in a district Beyer won by more than forty points in 2024 and that every forecaster rates safe Democratic.
— Virginia Public Access Project filings; 2024 result and forecaster ratings
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Sabio by name could be found — not from Don Beyer or his campaign, not from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and not in Arlington, Alexandria or Fairfax news coverage beyond the fundraising figures. Searches covered DCCC materials, his name against criticism and opponent terms, and ARLnow, the Virginia Mercury, WTOP and the Alexandria Brief.
His detailed policy positions were not published in the coverage found; the positions above come from his launch coverage and his campaign site's framing.
No party committee or elected-official endorsements beyond the county committee's promotion were found.
Limited government and cutting bureaucratic waste.
Fiscal responsibility.
Parental rights in schooling.
A non-interventionist foreign policy.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
United States Navy veteran; licensed professional engineer working for the federal government; holds degrees in electrical, computer and environmental engineering.
Ran for the Virginia House of Delegates in the 16th District in 2025, finishing third with 2.8%.
Libertarian Party nominee for this district; lives in the Fairfax County portion.
Reported no campaign finances.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Arnoldi by name could be found — not from any opposing campaign, party committee, or Northern Virginia news outlet — and no published case for her beyond her own campaign material and ARLnow's profile. Because no case against her exists on the record, none is presented for her either.
She does not criticise Beyer directly, framing her campaign instead as giving voters an alternative: "Too many people stay home because they feel ignored, and too many others simply have not been given a real alternative."
She has reported no campaign finances, and her only previous run drew 2.8% of the vote.
Affordability — housing, childcare and food costs.
Tax policy aimed at working households.
Economic opportunity outside the federal workforce.
Appealing across party lines to voters frustrated with both parties.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Consultant; founder of TrulyUs, an online dating application; born in the United Kingdom, lives in Alexandria.
Spent $42,000 of his own money to qualify for the ballot and has raised about $25,000.
Cited the 2025 federal government shutdown's effect on workers and local businesses as a reason for running.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Sharman by name could be found — not from any opposing campaign, party committee, or Northern Virginia news outlet — and no published case for him beyond his own campaign material and ARLnow's profile. Because no case against him exists on the record, none is presented for him either.
He does not criticise Beyer directly, positioning himself instead as an alternative for "Democrats frustrated with politics as usual… and Republicans plus independents tired of being electorally sidelined."
He acknowledges steep odds but says "I don't agree that the outcome is a foregone conclusion." His campaign website did not resolve when checked.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Virginia held its primaries on August 4, 2026. Four candidates appear on the November ballot: Democratic incumbent Don Beyer, Republican Tony Sabio, Libertarian Shelly Arnoldi and independent Tim Sharman. The roster is confirmed against the Virginia Department of Elections certified federal candidate list for the November 3, 2026 general election, revised September 8, 2026. The district covers Alexandria, Falls Church, all of Arlington and part of eastern Fairfax County — the most federal-worker-dependent district in the state. Beyer won it with 71.5% in 2024 and it is rated safe Democratic; the substance of the contest was a five-way Democratic primary driven by his age and by anger over federal layoffs.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Virginia ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Virginia Department of Elections.