Donald Sternoff Beyer Jr. (/ˈbaɪ.ər/ BY-ər; born June 20, 1950) is an American businessman, diplomat, and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Virginia's 8th congressional district since 2015.

A member of the Democratic Party, his district is in the heart of Northern Virginia and includes Alexandria, Falls Church, and Arlington.

Beyer has owned automobile dealerships in Virginia and has a long record of involvement in community and philanthropic work.

From 1990 to 1998, he served two terms as the 36th lieutenant governor of Virginia during the gubernatorial administrations of Doug Wilder (1990–1994) and George Allen (1994–1998).

[1] In 2014, Beyer announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives seat for Virginia's 8th congressional district held by the retiring Jim Moran.

[5][6] In 2022, during his congressional career, Beyer enrolled at George Mason University in pursuit of a master's degree in computer science with a concentration in machine learning,[7] taking one evening course per semester.

He told The Washington Post in December 2022 that he was taking required undergraduate courses before he started graduate coursework, which he expected to begin by 2024.

During nearly two decades of community activism, Beyer has taken leadership roles on the boards of many business, philanthropic and public policy organizations, the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce and the American Cancer Society.

[15] He is a former president of the board of Youth for Tomorrow, Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs's residential home for troubled adolescent boys and girls.

[19] Beyer was elected lieutenant governor of Virginia in 1989, defeating Republican state senator Edwina P. Dalton.

Farris's close connection to conservative leaders such as Jerry Falwell of the Moral Majority, Pat Robertson of the Christian Coalition and Phyllis Schlafly of the Eagle Forum, as well as his adherence to the Quiverfull movement,[20][21] stirred deep-seated feelings and led some prominent Virginia Republicans such as U.S.

He served as Finance Chairman for Mark Warner's Political Action Committee, "Forward Together",[26] and as the National Treasurer for the 2004 presidential campaign of former Vermont Governor Howard Dean.

[33] In December 2010, Beyer attracted public attention when it was reported that he had warned the Swiss government against offering asylum to WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange.

The award is presented annually by ACA to recognize State Department members who have rendered outstanding service to Americans overseas.

Beyer was recognized for organizing a series of town hall meetings where American citizens overseas could voice concerns and opinions to officials of the State Department.

[35] In June 2022, after a spate of mass shootings in the U.S., Beyer said he would propose a bill to increase taxes on assault-style guns by 1,000%.

On January 24, 2014, Beyer announced his candidacy for Virginia's 8th congressional district to succeed retiring Democratic incumbent Jim Moran.