Article Text

Rep. Don Beyer won the Democratic primary for Virginia’s 8th Congressional District with 39,714 votes, or 67.6 percent of the total, according to the reported results.

Mo Seifeldein finished second with 17 percent, followed by Adam Dunigan with 9 percent. Overall turnout in the district was 9 percent.

The 8th District includes Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax County and Falls Church. In Falls Church, Beyer received 75.2 percent of the vote, while turnout there was 13 percent.

“I wish everywhere could be like Falls Church,” Beyer said in an interview.

Beyer said he faced four opponents and described his campaign as full-throttle. Following the primary, he also discussed Democrats’ prospects in the November election, saying the party is targeting more than two dozen House races and sees more than 50 potential gains.

Beyer said he was scheduled to join a conference call with candidates in targeted races. He also said he had begun work on legislation that he believes a new Democratic House majority could pass. He described the proposals as falling into three categories: measures considered more certain, those less certain and longer-term aspirational goals.

Among the aspirational reforms Beyer identified were ranked-choice voting, eliminating the Electoral College and expanding the Supreme Court.

The primary took place after a Virginia congressional redistricting plan approved by voters was rejected by the Virginia Supreme Court, a development that contributed to changing the primary date from June. Virginia Democrats nevertheless remain optimistic about winning eight of the state’s 11 congressional districts.

Other Democratic congressional primary results also shaped the party’s outlook. Elaine Luria won the nomination in Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, while Shannon Taylor won a seven-person primary in the 1st District. Tom Perriello had a strong showing in the 5th District primary.