Virginia's 8th Congressional District

‘Ridiculous,’ Mayor Gaskins calls GOP bill to return Alexandria and Arlington to D.C.

Published April 27, 2026 at 1:45PM

A sailboat on the Potomac River (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins is calling a congressional bill to make Alexandria and Arlington part of D.C. “silliness,” “ridiculous,” and a “huge distraction.”

In a recent Facebook post, Gaskins said U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick’s (R-Ga.) Make DC Square Again Act would upend the rights of residents in both jurisdictions. McCormick introduced the bill after the narrow passage of a statewide redistricting referendum on April 21, which gives Democrats the power to redraw congressional district maps for the 2026 midterm elections.

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Virginia Supreme Court hears challenge to voter-approved redistricting amendment

By Emily Leayman and The Associated Press

Published April 27, 2026 at 11:45AM

Signs at Mount Vernon Recreation Center in Del Ray on Election Day, April 21, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Virginia Supreme Court judges on Monday questioned whether the state’s Democratic-led legislature complied with constitutional requirements when it sent a congressional redistricting plan to voters, in a case that carries high stakes for the balance of power in the U.S. House.

A Republican challenge to the redistricting plan, which could net Democrats four additional seats and won narrow voter approval last week, contends that the General Assembly violated procedural rules by placing the constitutional amendment before voters to authorize mid-decade redistricting. If the court agrees that lawmakers broke the rules, it could invalidate the amendment and render last week’s statewide vote meaningless.

News

Virginia redistricting amendment passes narrowly, but legal challenges remain

By Emily Leayman and The Associated Press

Published April 22, 2026 at 11:45AM

Signs supporting and opposing redistricting on April 6, 2026 in Old Town Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

The redistricting amendment passed in Virginia Tuesday will allow Democrats to pursue redrawn congressional district maps for the 2026 midterm elections.

The Associated Press called the race in favor of the redistricting amendment’s passage at 8:49 p.m. Tuesday. According to unofficial results from the Virginia Department of Elections, more than 1.5 million votes (51.45%) supported the amendment and more than 1.4 million (48.6%) opposed.

News

Former Councilman Mo Seifeldein banks on grassroots support as fundraising trails Beyer

By Emily Leayman

Published March 6, 2026 at 2:45PM

Former City Council Member Mo Seifeldein, who is running for Virginia's 8th Congressional District, at the Alexandria Democratic Committee's Labor Day Picnic at The Garden Alexandria, 5380 Eisenhower Avenue, Sept. 1, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Former Alexandria City Councilmember Mo Seifeldein is second to Rep. Don Beyer in fundraising for the Aug. 4 Democratic primary race in the 8th Congressional District.

According to FEC filings through the end of 2025, incumbent Beyer led Democratic candidates with $1.16 million in fundraising. Seifeldein followed with over $117,000. The only other Democratic candidate reporting donations through the end of 2025 is fired State Department worker Michael Duffin, with over $23,000.

News

Alexandria’s congressional primary elections moved to August amid redistricting push

By Emily Leayman

Published February 26, 2026 at 9:20AM

Voters at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center on Election Day, Nov. 4, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The 2026 congressional primaries in Alexandria and the rest of Virginia will be delayed until August, leaving more time for candidate filings after the fate of mid-decade redistricting is decided.

Alexandria’s General Registrar Angie Maniglia Turner confirmed to ALXnow that the city will have its primary elections on Aug. 4. According to Maniglia Turner, the city’s only primaries in 2026 are Sen. Mark Warner (D)’s U.S. Senate seat and U.S. House of Representatives.

News

Fired State Department official from Alexandria enters 8th Congressional District race

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 1, 2025 at 6:00PM | Updated October 1, 2025 at 6:37PM

Michael Duffin is running for Virginia's 8th Congressional District (via Micahel Duffin on Facebook)

Michael Duffin, a former State Department official who was terminated in July, announced on Wednesday his campaign for the Democratic nomination in Virginia’s 8th Congressional District, joining a growing primary field that includes a former Alexandria city councilman.

Duffin announced his candidacy early Wednesday morning on LinkedIn before making a formal campaign announcement later in the day, according to Patch.