Chances are that if you are a registered voter in the 8th Congressional District, your mailbox has been letting you know that many candidates are running in next week’s Democratic primary.
The 8th Congressional District is currently represented by retiring U.S. Rep. Jim Moran, and seven candidates are running for the right to replace him. There is no runoff, so even if the top candidate gets considerably less than 50 percent of the vote, he or she will move on as the Democratic nominee in November, facing Republican Micah Edmond. Given the voting history in the 8th district, the Democratic nominee will most likely move on to serve in Congress.
(Our region is losing its two longest serving members of Congress to retirement, Moran and U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10). Voters in the 10th Congressional District will choose between Republican Barbara Comstock and Democrat John Foust in November.)
The 8th Congressional District includes all of Arlington, Alexandria and Mount Vernon, plus parts of Tysons, McLean and Vienna to the north, Springfield, Lorton and Mason Neck to the South.
Candidates include Don Beyer, Lavern Chatman, Mark Levine, Patrick Hope, Adam Ebbin, Bill Euille and Derek Hyra. Three other names will appear on the ballot even though the candidates have withdrawn from the race because they withdrew after the ballot was printed/set.
Election Day is Tuesday, June 10, and regular polling places will be open 6 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Voters who qualify to vote absentee can vote in person early until June 7. But be sure to vote by primary Election Day, June 10.
Anyone who might working and commuting for 11 of the 13 hours polls will be open on Election Day, 6 a.m.-7 p.m., qualifies to vote absentee. You can vote absentee if you are: a student or spouse at an academic institution, absent on business, absent for personal business or vacation, unable to get to the polls due to a physical disability or illness, a caretaker of a confined family member, a precinct election officer, have a religious obligation or conflict, active duty uniformed service or merchant marine or a dependent, regularly employed outside the U.S. or a dependent, and several other special circumstances.
In Arlington, vote absentee-in-person at Courthouse Plaza, 2100 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 320, through Saturday, June 7; weekdays 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
In Alexandria, vote absentee-in-person at the Office of Voter Registration & Elections, 132 North Royal Street #100 through Saturday, June 7, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. http://www.alexandriava.gov/Elections
In Fairfax County, two options:
Fairfax County Government Center, Office of Elections, 12000 Government Center Pkwy., Suite 323, Fairfax, through Friday, June 6, 8 a.m. - 7 p.m., and Saturday, June 7, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Mount Vernon Governmental Center, 2511 Parkers Lane, Alexandria, through Friday, June 6, 3:30 - 7 p.m. and Saturday, June 7, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Read extensive previous coverage about the candidates at
http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/Election/National/Representatives/VA08/
Father’s Day Photos
Father’s Day is June 15, and as in years past, The Connection will publish a gallery of photos of fathers, grandfathers, great grandfathers and sons and daughters. Send your photos, including names of everyone in the photo, ages of children, town of residence and a brief description of what is happening to editors@connectionnewspapers.com