An Arlington writer, conservationist and tour guide has launched a campaign to challenge U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D) as a Republican.
Luke Nathan Phillips, a self-described “bipartisan activist” and “avid outdoorsman,” seeks to take on Arlington’s longtime congressman with a platform focused on crossing political divides and protecting public land.
“Nobody in my party is doing enough to keep our sacred places from being sold off or closed down, and to keep their stewards from being laid off and losing funding,” the 32-year-old said in a press release this week. “I want to support my fellow Republicans who are doing that work, and to remind my party of our responsibility to our public lands.”
The candidate, who is running in the Republican primary for Virginia’s 8th Congressional District in June 2026, served from 2021 to 2024 as a Publius Fellow for Public Discourse at Braver Angels, an organization that holds events focused on political depolarization.
His website lists stints at various research teams, trade associations, think tanks, foundations and political campaigns, as well as his contributions to publications like American Affairs, Comment and the American Conservation Coalition.
Phillips describes himself as “an outdoor guide, mountaineer, and ultra-marathoner who respects and advocates for the outdoor heritage shared by all Americans.”
“I’ve spent my whole career bringing Republicans and Democrats and everybody else together to think about our common problems, and I intend to do that for the rest of my life,” he said.
The 8th Congressional District includes Arlington, Falls Church, Alexandria and part of Fairfax County. Beyer, who is up for reelection in November, has represented it since 2015, succeeding Rep. Jim Moran (D) in Congress.
In announcing his reelection bid over the summer, Beyer pledged to keep fighting “abuses of power” while his party plots strategies to take back Congress.
“Today, Northern Virginia is under attack, and we need a proven fighter to stand up to Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and their corrupt Trump Administration cronies to defend our community,” he said in a press release in June. “I am seeking reelection to Congress because I am that fighter.”
While focusing on combating policy changes under the current Republican administration, Beyer has also pledged to hold fast to priorities like investing in fusion energy, creating legislation on artificial intelligence and coming up with a national model for dealing with mental health challenges.
