"Virginians will head to the polls today to vote in a series of congressional primaries, with a dozen candidates from Alexandria to Leesburg vying for a space on the November ballot.

Three area seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are up this fall, and only two of the incumbents -- Rep. Frank R. Wolf (R) and Rep. James P. Moran Jr. (D) -- are seeking reelection. Rep. Tom Davis (R) is stepping down after 14 years in office.

Davis's retirement has sparked an intense contest between the two Democratic front-runners seeking to succeed him, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerald E. Connolly and former representative Leslie Byrne. The victor will have an advantage this fall in the 11th District, which includes most of Fairfax County and has been leaning Democratic in recent years.

Both Connolly and Byrne oppose the war in Iraq and have advocated for changes in the nation's health-care system. They also support greater environmental protections and relief for the working class. In the past few months, they have sought to sharpen their personal differences, with Byrne condemning Connolly for working for a defense contractor and Connolly criticizing Byrne's campaign tactics.

Also in the race are Douglas J. Denneny, a former Navy pilot, and Lori P. Alexander, a physical therapist, who have promoted themselves as the campaign's non-establishment alternatives. The winner of the Democratic primary will go up against Keith S. Fimian, a businessman and relative unknown, who is unopposed for the GOP nomination.

In the 10th District, which includes Manassas and parts of Loudoun, Prince William and Fairfax counties, two Democrats are battling for the chance to challenge Wolf, Virginia's longest-serving member of Congress.

Georgetown University professor Judy M. Feder and retired Air Force Col. Mike R. Turner have criticized Wolf's support of the Iraq war. Feder, who lost to Wolf in 2006, has made affordable health care a centerpiece of her campaign and has raised $1 million. Turner has compared himself to Sen. James Webb (D) and says he is a better fit for the district, which also has been leaning Democratic but is more conservative than nearby Fairfax.

For the first time in his 28 years in Congress, Wolf also is facing a challenge from within the GOP, from financial consultant Vern P. McKinley, who has called Wolf a "big-government Republican." But Wolf enjoys wide support from Republicans and is known for his anti-sprawl and mass-transit efforts, as well as his support for international human rights.

In the 8th District, which covers Alexandria, Falls Church, Arlington County and part of Fairfax, nine-term incumbent Moran is facing primary opponent Matthew T. Famiglietti, a lawyer who has promoted himself as the more progressive Democratic candidate.

Moran is a well-established local figure whose early opposition to the Iraq war was well-received in his solidly blue district. He has said he hopes to work with other Democrats in Congress to make health care more affordable and shrink the nation's wealth disparity.

Two Republicans are competing for the nomination in that race. Amit K. Singh, who owns a small engineering firm, said he would be a more energetic candidate against Moran than his opponent in the primary, banking executive Mark W. Ellmore. Ellmore has accused Moran of spending too much money and failing to bring infrastructure quickly enough to Northern Virginia.

Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. across the state." (Sandhya Somashekhar, The Washington Post, June 10, 2008)