Discovery Insights Elections Candidates Calendar Watchlist

Democrat

Don Beyer

Visit Website

YouTube

Facebook

Instagram

Democrat

Don Beyer

Website

VA-08 Democratic nominee?

$90.5K

AUG 5, 2026

Primary Election

Party selects its nominee.

Overview

Current roleU.S. Representative

PartyDemocratic

Political ideologyModerate Democrat

Age76 years old (Jun 20, 1950)

GenderMale

LocationVirginia

BackgroundU.S. Representative

EducationGonzaga College High School (1968)

Notable personal detailsDonald Sternoff Beyer Jr. is a U.S. Representative for Virginia’s 8th congressional district, serving in Congress since January 3, 2015. Before Congress, he was Lieutenant Governor of Virginia (1990–1998) and later served as U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein (2009–2013). He is also a businessman in the automotive industry and a graduate of Williams College.

SourcesShow

history.house.gov fec.gov beyer.house.gov en.wikipedia.org thecandidate.com readthedonation.com publicapi.dev learn.microsoft.com ispolitical.com thepolitibase.com thegreenpapers.com docquery.fec.gov eqs.fec.gov onlinecampus.fcps.edu jec.senate.gov wvtf.org warren.senate.gov jayapal.house.gov iaproject.org reproductivefreedomforall.org delbene.house.gov democrats-science.house.gov eos.org washingtonpost.com giffords.org arlnow.com alexandriabrief.com alxnow.com lcv.org friendsofdonbeyer.com fpactionnetwork.org smucker.house.gov punchbowl.news shannontaylorva.com washingtonblade.com kelly.senate.gov moaa.org alternet.org bluevirginia.us ballotpedia.org localcandidates.org facebook.com instagram.com congress.gov clerk.house.gov radiotv.house.gov govinfo.gov democrats.house.gov

Positions

LiberalConservative

Economy & Taxes

Supports raising taxes on the wealthy and corporations to increase federal revenue and fund government programs; has publicly backed proposals like a millionaires surtax and supported legislation targeting corporate profits and opposing Republican tax cuts for high earners.

Healthcare

Don Beyer has cosponsored Medicare for All legislation and supports policies to expand coverage and lower costs, including strengthening the Affordable Care Act’s marketplace subsidies and lowering prescription drug prices. His public materials highlight support for recent Democratic laws (e.g., American Rescue Plan, Inflation Reduction Act) that expand subsidies and cap drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries.

Immigration & Border

Supports expanded legal pathways and protections for immigrants including DACA recipients and a pathway to citizenship; opposes restrictive travel bans and has pushed for oversight and limits on ICE/CBP detention and abuses. Advocates comprehensive immigration reform that modernizes processing, addresses root causes, and includes earned legalization while criticizing harsh enforcement practices and detention conditions.

Abortion & Reproductive Rights

Supports legal abortion access and has voted to codify Roe v. Wade protections at the federal level. Backed and voted for the Women’s Health Protection Act to protect abortion access nationally.

Climate & Energy

Supports active federal climate policy including clean energy investment, market-based mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and carbon pricing while supporting transitional technologies. Has sponsored legislation to incentivize carbon removal and participates in congressional climate and clean-energy caucuses. Advocates using the social cost of carbon in policymaking and promotes energy innovation and efficiency.

Public Safety & Guns

Supports universal background checks, red flag (extreme risk protection) laws, an assault weapons ban, repeal of gun-industry liability protections, bans on ghost guns, and stronger ATF enforcement. Advocates a range of federal gun-safety measures including expanded background checks and restrictions on certain weapons and magazines.

News

AINews Summary

Last updatedJul 23, 2026

Don Beyer is in the news for a strong fundraising lead in Virginia’s 8th District Democratic primary. Campaign filings show he raised $2.09 million and had $864,385.08 cash on hand through June 30, far ahead of his challengers. He has also been active in candidate forums on housing, voting rights, immigration enforcement, and schools as early voting continues ahead of the August 4 primary.

history.house.gov+47

Articles

JIJoliet, IL Patch4 days ago