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ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Five candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for Virginia's 8th Congressional District will appear together Wednesday evening at a candidate forum hosted by Arlington Democrats at Lubber Run Community Center, 300 N. Park Drive, Arlington — as early voting is already underway in Alexandria ahead of the August 4 dual primary.
Doors open at 7 p.m. and the forum begins at 7:15 p.m. The event, which also serves as Arlington Democrats' July committee meeting, runs until 9 p.m., is free and open to the public, and meets ADA accessibility standards. Registration is available at mobilize.us/arlingtondems.
The candidates appearing are incumbent Rep. Don Beyer, who has held the seat since 2015, along with Michael Duffin, Adam Dunigan, former Alexandria City Councilman Mo Seifeldein and Lorena Thorne Bruner. The forum will be moderated by Yohannes Abraham.
The 8th District is among the most Democratic in the country, making the primary the race to watch. The Democratic nominee will face Republican Tony Sabio, who is unopposed in his primary, in the Nov. 3 general election.
The dual primary also features a Republican U.S. Senate contest, with Bert Mizusawa, Kim Farington and David Williams competing for the nomination. The GOP nominee will challenge Democratic incumbent Sen. Mark Warner in November.
How to vote in Alexandria
In-person early voting is available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Office of Voter Registration and Elections, 132 N. Royal St., Suite 100. The office is closed July 3.
Weekend and evening hours begin July 19 at both the Royal Street office and Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library, 5005 Duke St. The last day for early voting at both locations is Saturday, Aug. 1.
Beatley Central Library
- Sunday, July 19: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Saturday, July 25: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Sunday, July 26: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Saturday, Aug. 1: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Office of Voter Registration and Elections, 132 N. Royal St.
- Sunday, July 19: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Saturday, July 25: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Sunday, July 26: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Tuesday, July 28: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
- Thursday, July 30: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
- Saturday, Aug. 1: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
No appointment is needed. Voters will be asked to show identification; a list of acceptable IDs is available at the Virginia Department of Elections website.
Voting by mail
Residents may request a mail ballot online at vote.elections.virginia.gov or by mail, fax or email to the Royal Street office. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. on July 24 — the same deadline to register to vote or update an address for this election. Completed mail ballots must be postmarked before 7 p.m. on Election Day and received by the elections office by noon on Aug. 7.
A secure outdoor drop box is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week in front of the Royal Street office through 7 p.m. on Election Day. Drop boxes will also be available at all polling places on Election Day from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Voters can track their mail ballot status through the Virginia Department of Elections' Citizens Portal. Sample ballots are available at alexandriava.gov/Elections. For questions, contact the Office of Voter Registration and Elections at 703-746-4050 or VoteAbsentee@alexandriava.gov.
