Federal

U.S. Representative, 8th Congressional District

Vote for: 1
Term: 2 years
Candidates: 4
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A member of the U.S. House of Representatives votes on federal laws, taxes and spending on behalf of the district.

Localities in the district (all or part): City of Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, City of Falls Church.

Candidates Compare by issue

Tony A. Sabio

Republican

The gist

Proposes making large energy users fund dedicated power generation.
Proposes guaranteed coverage for preexisting conditions without a government plan.
Proposes reducing Northern Virginia's reliance on the federal economy.
Proposes cutting regulations and expanding capital for small businesses.
Supports securing the border while restoring orderly legal immigration.
Supports keeping ICE with added accountability.
Opposes federal spending that does not return investment to people.

More about Tony

View sources (6)

Proposes making large energy users fund dedicated power generation.
Energy & Power — Sabio for Congress
Campaign website · Tony Sabio for Congress · sabioforcongress.com
“Ensure major energy consumers contribute directly to generation capacity instead of passing costs onto ratepayers. … Accelerate next-generation nuclear energy deployment”
Proposes guaranteed coverage for preexisting conditions without a government plan.
Affordable Healthcare — Sabio for Congress
Campaign website · Tony Sabio for Congress · sabioforcongress.com
“My plan guarantees access to coverage for individuals with preexisting conditions while promoting stability, affordability, and personal responsibility. … Automatic bridge coverage during job loss, illness, or financial hardship”
Proposes reducing Northern Virginia's reliance on the federal economy.
Jobs & Opportunity — Sabio for Congress
Campaign website · Tony Sabio for Congress · sabioforcongress.com
“Northern Virginia has become too dependent on the federal government economy. … Launch Skilled Trade Workforce Expansion Programs”
Proposes cutting regulations and expanding capital for small businesses.
Small Business First — Sabio for Congress
Campaign website · Tony Sabio for Congress · sabioforcongress.com
“Streamline unnecessary regulations hurting small business growth and local investment. … Expand Access to Capital”
Supports securing the border while restoring orderly legal immigration.
Safe and Secured America — Sabio for Congress
Campaign website · Tony Sabio for Congress · sabioforcongress.com
“Secure the border while restoring lawful and orderly immigration processes.”
Supports keeping ICE with added accountability.
Rep. Beyer and challengers clash over ICE, data centers, Trump's triumphal arch
News coverage · ARLnow · Sep 15, 2026 · arlnow.com
“We have to have accountability … but we cannot throw a whole system out”
Opposes federal spending that does not return investment to people.
Rep. Beyer and challengers clash over ICE, data centers, Trump's triumphal arch
News coverage · ARLnow · Sep 15, 2026 · arlnow.com
“If it doesn't return investment to the people, I will not support it”

Shelly M. Arnoldi

Libertarian

Licensed professional engineer; U.S. Navy veteran · Fairfax County

The gist

Pledges to support congressional term limits.
Supports expanding parental rights in education.
Supports ending taxpayer-funded benefits for people here illegally.
Supports halting new data centers pending further study.
Supports ending federal funding for monuments and national museums.
Pledges to cut federal waste, taxes and regulation.
Supports a pro-peace, anti-war foreign policy.

More about Shelly

View sources (3)

Pledges to support congressional term limits.
Candidate Profile: Shelly Arnoldi For VA 8th Congressional District
Candidate questionnaire · Patch · Sep 25, 2026 · patch.com
“I've already signed the U.S. Term Limits pledge and I'll keep it”
Supports expanding parental rights in education.
Candidate Profile: Shelly Arnoldi For VA 8th Congressional District
Candidate questionnaire · Patch · Sep 25, 2026 · patch.com
“put parents back at the center of education and defend parental rights”
Supports ending taxpayer-funded benefits for people here illegally.
Rep. Beyer and challengers clash over ICE, data centers, Trump's triumphal arch
News coverage · ARLnow · Sep 15, 2026 · arlnow.com
“I don't think that I'd defund ICE”
Candidate Profile: Shelly Arnoldi For VA 8th Congressional District
Candidate questionnaire · Patch · Sep 25, 2026 · patch.com
“enforce immigration laws and stop taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal immigrants”
Supports halting new data centers pending further study.
Rep. Beyer and challengers clash over ICE, data centers, Trump's triumphal arch
News coverage · ARLnow · Sep 15, 2026 · arlnow.com
“Halt things right now, until we know what's going on”
Supports ending federal funding for monuments and national museums.
Rep. Beyer and challengers clash over ICE, data centers, Trump's triumphal arch
News coverage · ARLnow · Sep 15, 2026 · arlnow.com
“Arnoldi said she would vote to “stop funding all the monuments,” along with the National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian.”
Pledges to cut federal waste, taxes and regulation.
Candidate Profile: Shelly Arnoldi For VA 8th Congressional District
Candidate questionnaire · Patch · Sep 25, 2026 · patch.com
“cut waste, taxes, and red tape so families and small businesses can breathe”
Supports a pro-peace, anti-war foreign policy.
Libertarian takes on Rep. Beyer, pledging to cut government waste, support civil liberties
News coverage · ARLnow · Sep 1, 2026 · arlnow.com
“a foreign policy rooted in being pro-peace and anti-war”

Tim S. Sharman

Independent

Consultant; founder of the TrulyUs app

The gist

Pledges to address housing, child care and food costs.
Opposes a one-size-fits-all federal data center policy.
Opposes President Trump's planned memorial arch near Arlington Cemetery.

More about Tim

View sources (2)

Pledges to address housing, child care and food costs.
Independent candidate challenges Rep. Beyer, targeting 'frustrated' voters
News coverage · ARLnow · Aug 24, 2026 · arlnow.com
“Sharman also cites the high cost of housing, child care and food as areas he wants to tackle … new ideas and energy around affordability, taxes, opportunity”
Opposes a one-size-fits-all federal data center policy.
Rep. Beyer and challengers clash over ICE, data centers, Trump's triumphal arch
News coverage · ARLnow · Sep 15, 2026 · arlnow.com
“On data centers, he said he did not want a one-size-fits-all policy handed down from the federal government.”
Opposes President Trump's planned memorial arch near Arlington Cemetery.
Rep. Beyer and challengers clash over ICE, data centers, Trump's triumphal arch
News coverage · ARLnow · Sep 15, 2026 · arlnow.com
“Sharman called it “absurd” and “a giant waste of money.””

Donald S. Beyer, Jr.

DemocraticIncumbent

U.S. Representative · Alexandria

The gist

Sponsored bills to repeal President Trump's tariffs.
Sponsored a carbon cap-and-dividend bill; supports a Green New Deal.
Co-sponsored an assault weapons ban and red-flag law bill.
Co-sponsored Medicare for All; introduced the Choose Medicare Act.
Co-sponsored a bill expanding the affordable housing tax credit.
Introduced legislation to help rehire laid-off federal workers.
Sponsored bills limiting ICE enforcement at schools, churches and hospitals.
Opposes President Trump's planned memorial arch near Arlington Cemetery.

More about Donald

View sources (8)

Sponsored bills to repeal President Trump's tariffs.
Priorities: Economy — Friends of Don Beyer
Campaign website · Friends of Don Beyer · friendsofdonbeyer.com
“offering bills to repeal the tariffs and signing onto amicus briefs to support the court battle against them”
Sponsored a carbon cap-and-dividend bill; supports a Green New Deal.
Priorities: Energy and Environment — Friends of Don Beyer
Campaign website · Friends of Don Beyer · friendsofdonbeyer.com
“I am the sponsor of the Healthy Climate and Family Security Act, a carbon cap and dividend bill … I also support a Green New Deal.”
Co-sponsored an assault weapons ban and red-flag law bill.
Priorities: Gun Violence Prevention — Friends of Don Beyer
Campaign website · Friends of Don Beyer · friendsofdonbeyer.com
“I am a long-time co-sponsor of the Assault Weapons Ban, and of measures to ban high capacity ammunition magazines and bump-stocks … I am a lead cosponsor of the bipartisan Extreme Risk Protection Order Act”
Co-sponsored Medicare for All; introduced the Choose Medicare Act.
Priorities: Health Care — Friends of Don Beyer
Campaign website · Friends of Don Beyer · friendsofdonbeyer.com
“I introduced the Choose Medicare Act to do just that, and am a proud co-sponsor of Medicare for All.”
Co-sponsored a bill expanding the affordable housing tax credit.
Priorities: Housing — Friends of Don Beyer
Campaign website · Friends of Don Beyer · friendsofdonbeyer.com
“I am a co-lead of H.R. 2573, the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act”
Introduced legislation to help rehire laid-off federal workers.
Priorities: Federal Workforce — Friends of Don Beyer
Campaign website · Friends of Don Beyer · friendsofdonbeyer.com
“I've introduced legislation to facilitate the rehiring of federal workers”
Sponsored bills limiting ICE enforcement at schools, churches and hospitals.
Priorities: Immigration — Friends of Don Beyer
Campaign website · Friends of Don Beyer · friendsofdonbeyer.com
“the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, which would protect schools, churches, and hospitals from immigration enforcement activities”
Opposes President Trump's planned memorial arch near Arlington Cemetery.
Rep. Beyer and challengers clash over ICE, data centers, Trump's triumphal arch
News coverage · ARLnow · Sep 15, 2026 · arlnow.com
“Beyer called the arch “stupid.””

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 8 issues covered in this race.