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

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, 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 The Pentagon is the headquarters building of the United States Department of Defense, in Arlington County, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. The building was constructed on an accelerated schedule during World War II. As ...

) and the Central Intelligence Agency. Their presence has established a flourishing aerospace and defense industry in the area, with

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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,

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carried the 8th district by over 55 points. Once a popular destination for

white flight The white flight, also known as white exodus, is the sudden or gradual large-scale migration of white people from areas becoming more racially or ethnoculturally diverse. Starting in the 1950s and 1960s, the terms became popular in the Racism ...

, 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 A bachelor's degree (from Medieval Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years ...

or higher, in large part due to the nearby government presence.

Recent election results from statewide races

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) :

, Falls Church

Elections since 1960

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

List of members representing the district

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
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