The 8th district is heavily influenced by the federal government in neighboring Washington, with nearly a quarter of its working population employed in the public sector. Though commuting into the nation's capital for work is common, several government agencies have their headquarters in the 8th district. The most prominent of these are the United States Department of Defense (located in the Pentagon) and the Central Intelligence Agency. Their presence has established a flourishing aerospace and defense industry in the area, with Northrop Grumman being one of the district's top private sector employers. Other major corporations are also located within its boundaries, most notably AES.
The seat has long been a liberal stronghold, having backed every Democratic presidential nominee since 1992. But those margins have grown dramatically; in 2020, Joe Biden carried the 8th district by over 55 points. Once a popular destination for white flight, the district has seen an influx of Asian, Black, and Hispanic residents in recent years and is now majority nonwhite.[5] It also has the nation's fifth-highest share of individuals with a bachelor's degree or higher, in large part due to the nearby government presence.
The Virginia Eighth District started in 1788 covering the counties of Norfolk, Accomack, Northampton, Princess Anne, Nansemond, Isle of Wight, Surry and Southampton.[17]
^ ab"2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
^Feinberg, Lawrence (March 11, 1981). "N.Va. Minority Population Grew Sharply in 1970s". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
^"Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections - County Data". Archived from the original on June 19, 2006.
^"Official Results/President". Commonwealth of Virginia/November 2nd – General Election. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on December 29, 2012.
^"President>President And Vice President>Votes By District". November 2008 Official Results. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
^"President>President And Vice President>Votes By District". November 6, 2012 General Election Official Results. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016.
^"2016 November General President". Archived from the original on December 23, 2016. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
^"Daily Kos Elections' presidential results by congressional district for 2020, 2016, and 2012".
^"Congressional District 8, Virginia - Fact Sheet". fastfacts.census.gov. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved September 20, 2007.
^"Find Your Representative". United States House of Representatives. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
^"Look Up a ZIP Code". USPS.com. United States Postal Service. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
^"November 6, 2012 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on May 12, 2013. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
^"Election Results | Virginia Department of Elections". Archived from the original on November 7, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2014.