Virginia's 8th congressional district
Interactive map of district boundaries since 2023
Representative
  Don Beyer
DAlexandria
Distribution
  • 99.71% urban[1]
  • 0.29% rural
Population (2022)764,684[2]
Median household
income
$122,460[3]
Ethnicity
Cook PVID+26[4]
Virginia's 8th congressional district from January 3, 2023

Virginia's 8th congressional district is located just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.. It comprises several populous suburbs in Northern Virginia, including all of Alexandria, Arlington, and Falls Church, as well as parts of Fairfax County. Democrat Don Beyer has held the seat since 2015. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of D+26, it is the most Democratic district in Virginia.[4]

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. But 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.[5] 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.

Election results from statewide races

Year Office Results
1996 President Clinton 55%–40%
2000 President Gore 55%–40%[6]
2004 President Kerry 64%–35%[7]
2008 President Obama 69%–30%[8]
2012 President Obama 67%–32%[9]
2016 President Clinton 72%–21%[10]
2020 President Biden 77%–22%[11]

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.[12]

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

Communities

Since 2023, the following communities have postal addresses within the 8th district.[13][14]

Entirely within the district

Partially within the district

Elections since 1960

1960s

Virginia's 8th congressional district election, 1960
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Howard W. Smith (inc.) 42,809 75.7
Republican Lawrence M. Traylor 13,410 23.7
Write-ins 364 0.6
Total votes 56,583 100.00
Democratic hold
Virginia's 8th congressional district election, 1962
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Howard W. Smith (inc.) 20,931 98.7
Write-ins 267 1.3
Total votes 21,198 100.00
Democratic hold
Virginia's 8th congressional district election, 1964
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Howard W. Smith (inc.) 49,440 69.4
Independent Floyd Caldwell Bagley 21,813 30.6
Write-ins 4 <0.1
Total votes 71,257 100.00
Democratic hold
Virginia's 8th congressional district election, 1966
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William L. Scott 50,782 57.2
Democratic George Rawlings 37,929 42.7
Write-ins 21 <0.1
Total votes 88,732 100.00
Republican gain from Democratic
Virginia's 8th congressional district election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William L. Scott (inc.) 68,167 64.9
Democratic Andrew H. McCutcheon 49,731 35.1
Write-ins 1 <0.1
Total votes 141,853 100.00
Republican hold

1970s

Virginia's 8th congressional district election, 1970
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William L. Scott (inc.) 68,167 63.8
Democratic Darrell Stearns 38,680 36.2
Write-ins 8 <0.1
Total votes 106,855 100.00
Republican hold
Virginia's 8th congressional district election, 1972
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Stanford Parris 60,446 44.4
Democratic Robert F. Horan 51,444 37.8
Independent William Durland 18,654 13.7
Independent Robert E. Harris 5,553 4.1
Write-ins 2 <0.1
Total votes 136,099 100.00
Republican hold
Virginia's 8th congressional district election, 1974
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Herbert Harris 53,074 57.6
Republican Stanford Parris (inc.) 38,997 42.4
Write-ins 11 <0.1
Total votes 92,082 100.00
Democratic gain from Republican
Virginia's 8th congressional district election, 1976
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Herbert Harris (inc.) 83,245 51.6
Republican James R. Tate 68,729 42.6
Independent Michael D. Cannon 9,292 5.8
Write-ins 61 <0.1
Total votes 161,327 100.00
Democratic hold
Virginia's 8th congressional district election, 1978
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Herbert Harris (inc.) 56,137 50.5
Republican Jack Herrity 52,396 47.1
Independent Charles Coe 2,632 2.4
Write-ins 5 <0.1
Total votes 111,170 100.00
Democratic hold

1980s

Virginia's 8th congressional district election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Stanford Parris 95,624 48.8
Democratic Herbert Harris (inc.) 94,530 48.3
Independent Deborah Frantz 5,729 2.9
Write-ins 14 <0.1
Total votes 195,897 100.00
Republican gain from Democratic
Virginia's 8th congressional district election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Stanford Parris (inc.) 69,620 49.7
Democratic Herbert Harris 68,071 48.6
Independent Austin Morrill 2,373 1.7
Write-ins 6 <0.1
Total votes 140,070 100.00
Republican hold
Virginia's 8th congressional district election, 1984
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Stanford Parris (inc.) 125,015 55.8
Democratic Richard L. Saslaw 97,250 43.4
Independent Donald W. Carpenter 1,814 0.8
Write-ins 12 <0.1
Total votes 224,091 100.00
Republican hold
Virginia's 8th congressional district election, 1986
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Stanford Parris (inc.) 72,670 61.8
Democratic James H. Boren 44,965 38.2
Write-ins 20 <0.1
Total votes 117,655 100.00
Republican hold
Virginia's 8th congressional district election, 1988
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Stanford Parris (inc.) 154,761 62.3
Democratic David Brickley 93,561 37.7
Write-ins 78 <0.1
Total votes 248,400 100.00
Republican hold

1990s

Virginia's 8th congressional district election, 1990
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Moran 88,475 51.7
Republican Stanford Parris (inc.) 76,367 44.6
Independent Robert Murphy 5,958 3.5
Write-ins 321 0.2
Total votes 171,121 100.00
Democratic gain from Republican
Virginia's 8th congressional district election, 1992
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Moran (inc.) 138,542 56.1
Republican Kyle E. McSlarrow 102,717 41.6
Independent Alvin West 5,601 2.3
Write-ins 266 0.1
Total votes 247,126 100.00
Democratic hold
Virginia's 8th congressional district election, 1994
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Moran (inc.) 120,281 59.3
Republican Kyle E. McSlarrow 79,568 39.3
Independent R. Ward Edmonds 1,858 0.9
Independent William Jones 868 0.4
Write-ins 98 <0.1
Total votes 202,673 100.00
Democratic hold
Virginia's 8th congressional district election, 1996
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Moran (inc.) 152,334 66.4
Republican John Otey 64,562 28.1
Reform R. Ward Edmonds 6,243 2.7
Independent Sarina Grosswald 5,239 2.3
Independent Charles Severance 740 0.3
Write-ins 303 0.1
Total votes 229,421 100.00
Democratic hold
Virginia's 8th congressional district election, 1998
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Moran (inc.) 97,545 66.7
Republican Demaris H. Miller 48,352 33.1
Write-ins 390 0.3
Total votes 146,287 100.00
Democratic hold

2000s

Virginia's 8th congressional district election, 2000
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Moran (inc.) 164,178 63.3
Republican Demaris H. Miller 88,262 34.1
Independent Ronald V. Crickenberger 3,483 1.3
Independent Rick Herron 2,805 1.1
Write-ins 471 0.2
Total votes 259,199 100.00
Democratic hold
Virginia's 8th congressional district election, 2002
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Moran (inc.) 102,759 59.8
Republican Scott C. Tate 64,121 37.3
Independent Ronald V. Crickenberger 4,558 2.7
Write-ins 361 0.2
Total votes 171,799 100.00
Democratic hold
Virginia's 8th congressional district election, 2004
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Moran (inc.) 171,986 59.7
Republican Lisa Marie Cheney 106,231 36.9
Independent Jim Hurysz 9,004 3.1
Write-ins 698 0.2
Total votes 287,919 100.00
Democratic hold
Virginia's 8th congressional district election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Moran (inc.) 144,700 66.4
Republican Tom M. O'Donoghue 66,639 30.6
Independent Jim Hurysz 6,094 2.8
Write-ins 476 0.2
Total votes 217,909 100.00
Democratic hold
Virginia's 8th congressional district election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Moran (inc.) 222,986 67.9
Republican Mark W. Ellmore 97,425 29.7
Independent Greens J. Ron Fisher 6,829 2.1
Other Write-in candidates 957 0.3
Total votes 328,197 100
Democratic hold

2010s

Virginia's 8th congressional district election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Moran (inc.) 116,293 61.0
Republican Jay Patrick Murray 71,108 37.3
Independent Greens J. Ron Fisher 2,704 1.4
Other Write-in candidates 492 0.2
Total votes 233,368 100
Turnout 233,368 of 476,011 49.0
Democratic hold
Virginia's 8th Congressional District election, 2012 [15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Moran (inc.) 226,847 64.6
Republican Jay Patrick Murray 107,370 30.6
Independent Jason Howell 10,180 2.9
Independent Greens Janet Murphy 5,985 1.7
Write-in 805 0.2
Total votes 351,187 100
Democratic hold
Virginia's 8th Congressional District election, 2014 [16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Don Beyer 128,102 63.1
Republican Micah Edmond 63,810 31.4
Independent Gwendolyn Beck 5,420 2.7
Libertarian Jeffrey Carson 4,409 2.2
Independent Greens Gerry Blais 963 0.5
Write-in 372 0.2
Total votes 203,076 100
Democratic hold
Virginia's 8th congressional district election, 2016
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Don Beyer (inc.) 246 653 68.4
Republican Charles A. Hernick 98,387 27.3
Independent Julio Gracia 14,664 4.0
Write-ins 972 0.2
Total votes 360,676 100
Democratic hold
Virginia's 8th congressional district election, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Don Beyer (inc.) 247,137 76.1
Republican Thomas Oh 76,899 23.7
Write-ins 712 0.2
Turnout 324,748 54.6
Total votes 324,748 100
Democratic hold

2020s

Virginia's 8th congressional district election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Don Beyer (inc.) 301,454 76.0
Republican Jeff Jordan 95,365 24.0
Write-in 926 0.2
Total votes 396,819 100
Democratic hold
Virginia's 8th congressional district election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Don Beyer (inc.) 197,760 73.5
Republican Karina Lipsman 66,589 24.8
Independent Teddy Fikre 4,078 1.5
Write-in 509 0.2
Total votes 268,936 100
Democratic hold

List of members representing the district

Representative Party Years Cong
ress
Electoral history
District established March 4, 1789

Josiah Parker
(Macclesfield)
Anti-Administration March 4, 1789 –
March 3, 1793
1st
2nd
Elected in 1789.
Re-elected in 1790.
Elected to Virginia 11th District

Thomas Claiborne
(Brunswick County)
Anti-Administration March 4, 1793 –
March 3, 1795
3rd
4th
5th
Elected in 1793.
Re-elected in 1795.
Re-elected in 1797.
Lost re-election.
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1795 –
March 3, 1799

Samuel Goode
(Chesterfield County)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1799 –
March 3, 1801
6th Elected in 1799.
[data missing]

Thomas Claiborne
(Brunswick County)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1801 –
March 3, 1803
7th Elected in 1801.
Redistricted to the 17th district.
Walter Jones
(Hayfield)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1803 –
March 3, 1811
8th
9th
10th
11th
Elected in 1803.
Re-elected in 1805.
Re-elected in 1807.
Re-elected in 1809.
Retired.
John Hungerford
(Leedstown)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1811 –
November 29, 1811
12th Elected in 1811.
Lost election contest.
John Taliaferro
(Fredericksburg)
Democratic-Republican November 29, 1811 –
March 3, 1813
12th Won election contest.
Redistricted to the 9th district and lost re-election.
Joseph Lewis Jr.
(Upperville)
Federalist March 4, 1813 –
March 3, 1817
13th
14th
Redistricted from the 7th district and re-elected in 1813.
Re-elected in 1815.
Retired.

Charles F. Mercer
(Aldie)
Federalist March 4, 1817 –
March 3, 1823
15th
16th
17th
Elected in 1817.
Re-elected in 1819.
Re-elected in 1821.
Redistricted to the 14th district.
Burwell Bassett
(Williamsburg)
Democratic-Republican (Crawford) March 4, 1823 –
March 3, 1825
18th
19th
20th
Redistricted from the 13th district 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.
(Williamsburg)
Jackson March 4, 1829 –
March 3, 1833
21st
22nd
Elected in 1829.
Re-elected in 1831.
Retired.

Henry A. Wise
(Accomac)
Jackson March 4, 1833 –
March 3, 1837
23rd
24th
25th
26th
27th
Elected in 1833.
Re-elected in 1835.
Re-elected in 1837.
Re-elected in 1839.
Re-elected in 1841.
Redistricted to the 7th district.
Whig March 4, 1837 –
March 3, 1843
Willoughby Newton
(Hague)
Whig March 4, 1843 –
March 3, 1845
28th Elected in 1843.
Lost re-election.

Robert M. T. Hunter
(Lloyds)
Whig March 4, 1845 –
March 3, 1847
29th Elected in 1845.
Elected to U.S. Senate

Richard L. T. Beale
(Hague)
Democratic March 4, 1847 –
March 3, 1849
30th Elected in 1847.
Retired.
Alexander R. Holladay
(Mansfield)
Democratic March 4, 1849 –
March 3, 1853
31st
32nd
Elected in 1849.
Re-elected in 1851.
Retired.

Charles J. Faulkner, Sr.
(Martinsburg)
Democratic March 4, 1853 –
March 3, 1859
33rd
34th
35th
Elected in 1853.
Re-elected in 1855.
Re-elected in 1857.
Appointed Minister to France.

Alexander R. Boteler
(Shepherdstown)
Opposition March 4, 1859 –
March 3, 1861
36th Elected in 1859.
Retired.
District inactive March 4, 1861 –
January 28, 1870
36th
37th
38th
39th
40th
41st
Civil War and Reconstruction

James K. Gibson
(Abingdon)
Conservative January 28, 1870 –
March 3, 1871
41st Elected in 1870.
Retired.

William Terry
(Wytheville)
Democratic March 4, 1871 –
March 3, 1873
42nd Elected in 1870.
Lost re-election.

Eppa Hunton
(Warrenton)
Democratic March 4, 1873 –
March 3, 1881
43rd
44th
45th
46th
Elected in 1872.
Re-elected in 1874.
Re-elected in 1876.
Re-elected in 1878.
Retired.

John S. Barbour Jr.
(Alexandria)
Democratic March 4, 1881 –
March 3, 1887
47th
48th
49th
Elected in 1880.
Re-elected in 1882.
Re-elected in 1884.
Retired.

William H. F. Lee
(Ravensworth)
Democratic March 4, 1887 –
October 15, 1891
50th
51st
52nd
Elected in 1886.
Re-elected in 1888.
Re-elected in 1890.
Died.
Vacant October 16, 1891 –
December 8, 1891
52nd

Elisha E. Meredith
(Brentsville)
Democratic December 9, 1891 –
March 3, 1897
52nd
53rd
54th
Elected to finish Lee's term.
Re-elected in 1892.
Re-elected in 1894.
Retired.

John F. Rixey
(Brandy)
Democratic March 4, 1897 –
February 8, 1907
55th
56th
57th
58th
59th
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
59th
60th

Charles C. Carlin
(Alexandria)
Democratic November 5, 1907 –
March 3, 1919
60th
61st
62nd
63rd
64th
65th
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
66th

R. Walton Moore
(Fairfax)
Democratic April 27, 1919 –
March 3, 1931
66th
67th
68th
69th
70th
71st
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
(Alexandria)
Democratic March 4, 1931 –
March 3, 1933
72nd Elected in 1930.
Redistricted to the at-large seat.
District inactive March 4, 1933 –
January 3, 1935
73rd

Howard W. Smith
(Broad Run)
Democratic January 3, 1935 –
January 3, 1967
74th
75th
76th
77th
78th
79th
80th
81st
82nd
83rd
84th
85th
86th
87th
88th
89th
Redistricted from the at-large seat 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
(Fairfax)
Republican January 3, 1967 –
January 3, 1973
90th
91st
92nd
Elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Elected to U.S. Senate.

Stanford Parris
(Fairfax Station)
Republican January 3, 1973 –
January 3, 1975
93rd Elected in 1972.
Lost re-election.

Herbert E. Harris
(Alexandria)
Democratic January 3, 1975 –
January 3, 1981
94th
95th
96th
Elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978.
Lost re-election.

Stanford Parris
(Fairfax Station)
Republican January 3, 1981 –
January 3, 1991
97th
98th
99th
100th
101st
Elected in 1980.
Re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Re-elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Lost re-election.

Jim Moran
(Alexandria)
Democratic January 3, 1991 –
January 3, 2015
102nd
103rd
104th
105th
106th
107th
108th
109th
110th
111th
112th
113th
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
(Alexandria)
Democratic January 3, 2015 –
present
114th
115th
116th
117th
118th
Elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Re-elected in 2022.

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.[17]

2003–2013
2013–2023

See also

References

  1. Geography, US Census Bureau. "Congressional Districts Relationship Files (state-based)". www.census.gov. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  2. Bureau, Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census. "My Congressional District". www.census.gov. Retrieved October 6, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. "My Congressional District".
  4. 1 2 "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  5. Feinberg, Lawrence (March 11, 1981). "N.Va. Minority Population Grew Sharply in 1970s". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  6. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections - County Data". Archived from the original on June 19, 2006.
  7. "Official Results/President". Commonwealth of Virginia/November 2nd – General Election. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on December 29, 2012.
  8. "President>President And Vice President>Votes By District". November 2008 Official Results. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
  9. "President>President And Vice President>Votes By District". November 6, 2012 General Election Official Results. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016.
  10. "2016 November General President". Archived from the original on December 23, 2016. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  11. "Daily Kos Elections' presidential results by congressional district for 2020, 2016, and 2012".
  12. "Congressional District 8, Virginia - Fact Sheet". fastfacts.census.gov. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved September 20, 2007.
  13. "Find Your Representative". United States House of Representatives. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  14. "Look Up a ZIP Code". USPS.com. United States Postal Service. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  15. "November 6, 2012 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on May 12, 2013. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  16. "Election Results | Virginia Department of Elections". Archived from the original on November 7, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  17. Statute of 20 November 1788

Further reading

38°46′46″N 77°08′23″W / 38.77944°N 77.13972°W / 38.77944; -77.13972

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