Beyer Projected Winner In 8th Congressional District General Election: AP

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Incumbent Rep. Don Beyer is the projected winner against three challengers in the Eighth Congressional District election, according to the Associated Press.

Beyer, a Democrat, sought a sixth term in Virginia's 8th Congressional District in the Nov. 5 general election and faced Republican Jerry Torres and independent candidates David Kennedy and Bentley Hensel.

With 164 of 171 precincts reporting results, Beyer is leading with 70.88 percent of the vote. The next-highest vote total is 25.55 percent for Torres. All precincts in the City of Alexandria, Arlington County and City of Falls Church are counted in unofficial results.

Results are unofficial until they are certified by election officials.

Beyer claimed victory in a statement to constituents.

"I am grateful to voters in Northern Virginia's 8th Congressional District for exercising their right to vote in this consequential election, and that they have again trusted me to represent them in the U.S. House of Representatives," Beyer said in a statement. "I want to thank my opponents, Bentley Hensel, David Kennedy, and Jerry Torres for their participation in our democratic process and willingness to serve our district. I want to also thank our wonderful volunteers for their time and efforts making calls, knocking doors, helping at the polls, and more."

Virginia's 8th Congressional District covers Arlington County, the Cities of Alexandria and Falls Church, and portions of Fairfax County. The district is labeled as strong Democratic by the Virginia Public Access Project.

Beyer, 74, was first elected to the 8th Congressional District seat in 2014, replacing retiring Democratic Rep. Jim Moran. Beyer, an Alexandria resident, is a former owner of his family's car dealership before selling his shares in the business in 2019.

The congressman previously served as Virginia's lieutenant governor from 1990 to 1998 and was an ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein appointed by former President Barack Obama in 2009. Beyer was the Democratic nominee for governor in 1997 and served as Virginia chair of several Democratic presidential campaigns.

In the last congressional election in 2022, Beyer easily won re-election to a fifth term in office, defeating Republican candidate Karina Lipsman.

Beyer has outraised opponents with $1.8 million, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. Torres raised over $572,000, Hensel has over $17,000 and Kennedy has over $16,000.

Along with the 8th Congressional District race, voters had U.S. Senate between Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine and Republican Hung Cao, president and a Virginia constitutional amendment on the ballot. Alexandria had mayoral, school board and city council on the ballot, while Arlington had county board and school board seats on the ballot. Fairfax County had several bond questions in addition to the federal races.