WASHINGTON — Democrats Don Beyer and Bill Euille have voted for each other in past elections as they ran for different positions. But they won’t be voting for each other Tuesday as they are among the seven candidates running for Virginia’s 8th Congressional District seat.
The two ran into each other at their polling location at precinct 104 during Tuesday’s primary election.
Candidates Beyer and Euille both live in precinct 104 / voting NOW together #WTOP pic.twitter.com/bBqxMnHaGZ
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) June 10, 2014
Seven Democrats are in the running to fill Rep. Jim Moran’s seat after he held the seat for the last 24 years.
The district includes Alexandria, Falls Church, Arlington County and parts of Fairfax County.
“We have a lot of great Democrats that we hope will actually show up [Tuesday]. Typically, these are lightly attended elections, and we want everybody possible to be a part of it,” says Beyer, the former lieutenant governor of Virginia.
Euille, the 64-year-old Alexandria mayor, says voter turnout is crucial.
“Who will win tonight will be based on how well they were able to get their voters out,” Euille says.
The winner will face off against Republican Micah Edmond in the general election Nov. 4.
“Any one of us can win the November election and will win,” Euille says. “Not can win, but will win the November election.”
Beyer, who also ran as the Democratic nominee for Virginia governor in 1997, says the Democrats need to be prepared for tough competition.
“This will be the first time the seat will be an open seat in 42 years so we know the Republicans will work hard and we have to work even harder.”
Here are the other five candidates in the primary:
- State Sen. Adam Ebbin, 50, the first openly gay member of the Virginia Legislature.
- Radio talk show host and constitutional attorney Mark Levine, 48, who also is gay.
- Former Northern Virginia Urban League President Lavern Chatman, 57.
- Virginia Tech professor Derek Hyra, 40.
- Virginia state delegate Patrick Hope, 42
WTOP’s Kristi King spoke with the candidates:
WTOP’s Kristi King contributed to this report.Follow @kingWTOP and @WTOP on Twitter and WTOP on Facebook.
