A former Alexandria elected official is making campaign stops outside the city in his attempt to unseat Rep. Don Beyer (D-8).
Mohamed “Mo” Seifeldein made his case last Wednesday to the Arlington County Democratic Committee. If elected, Seifeldein said his agenda would be to address the cost of living, implement a universal Medicare-for-all initiative and lower housing prices.
“We’re going to take back the House,” he predicted to applause from the audience.
In his remarks, Seifeldein also pledged to support the impeachment of President Donald Trump and those in his inner circle.
Seifeldein spent a single three-year term (2019-21) on City Council, serving as the first Muslim and Sudanese American elected to the position. He considered, but opted against, running for mayor in 2021, and chose not to seek reelection that year, either.
A former U.S. Department of Justice attorney, Seifeldein launched his bid to unseat Beyer last summer. The field of Democratic challengers taking the incumbent will be at least three, including Sefeldein, Daniel Gray and Michael Duffin.
With the primary being conducted under winner-take-all rules, a field of more than one challenger likely helps Beyer, who was first elected to Congress in 2014.
The primary is expected to be held June 16, but could be pushed back to late summer if voters this spring approve an expected legislative-redistricting constitutional amendment. The filing deadline for congressional candidates seeking to run in the primary is April 2.
Intentionally or not, Seifeldein picked a good night to speak to Arlington Democrats. About 300 had turned out to Washington-Liberty High School to participate in the party’s reorganization election, held once every two years.
He was accompanied by a group of supporters, who were collecting petition signatures to get Seifeldein on the primary ballot. Beyer supporters also were out in force collecting signatures.
A number of Republicans also have announced bids for the congressional seat, but their efforts likely will prove to be inconsequential. As currently configured, the 8th District is a Democratic fortress. Kamala Harris received more than 73% of the vote against Donald Trump in 2024, according to the Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP).
The district includes all of the cities of Alexandria and Falls Church, plus all of Arlington County and a portion of Fairfax County.
While Beyer and his predecessor, Jim Moran, came from Alexandria, only about 21% of the district’s voting base is in the city. About 46% live in the Fairfax and Falls Church portions of the district, with the remainder in Arlington, according to VPAP.
Approval of redistricting could also significantly alter the boundaries of Virginia’s 11 congressional districts, including the 8th.
The last time there was a serious contest for the 8th District was in 2014, when Moran was retiring and 10 Democrats vied for the seat in a party primary.
Beyer won nearly 46% of the vote in the crowded field. The next best finisher was Del. Patrick Hope of Arlington, with 18%.
Beyer previously served eight years as Virginia’s lieutenant governor, was the 1997 Democratic nominee for governor, and served as U.S. ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein during the Obama Administration.
