30 Facts About Don Beyer

1.

In 2014, Don Beyer announced his candidacy for the US House of Representatives seat for held by the retiring Jim Moran.

2.

Don Beyer's grandmother Clara Mortenson Beyer was a pioneer in labor economics and workers' rights, and worked in the United States Department of Labor under Frances Perkins during the New Deal era.

3.

Don Beyer was a Presidential Scholar in 1968 and a National Merit Scholarship winner.

4.

Don Beyer graduated from a winter Outward Bound course at Dartmouth College in January 1971, and attended Wellesley College that year as part of the "12 College Exchange" program.

5.

In 2022, during his congressional career, Don Beyer enrolled at George Mason University in pursuit of a master's degree in artificial intelligence, taking one evening course per semester.

6.

Don Beyer 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.

7.

Don Beyer sold his share of the dealerships to his brother in 2019.

8.

Don Beyer is a past chairman of the National Volvo Retailer Advisory Board.

9.

Don Beyer served as a member of the board of Demosphere International, Inc.

10.

Don Beyer has received numerous awards and honors, including the Grand Award for Highway Safety from the National Safety Federation; the James C Wheat Jr.

11.

In 2021, Don Beyer received the Excellence in Public Service Award from the Population Association of America.

12.

Don Beyer chaired the board of the Alexandria Community Trust, Alexandria's community foundation, and the board of Jobs for Virginia Graduates, the state's largest high school dropout prevention program.

13.

Don Beyer 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.

14.

Don Beyer served on the board of the DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.

15.

Don Beyer currently serves on the board of directors of Jobs for America's Graduates.

16.

In 2022, readers and editors of Arlington Magazine named Don Beyer "Best Elected Official" as part of the magazine's annual roundup of favorite restaurants, shops, doctors, summer camps, live bands and more in Arlington County, Virginia.

17.

Don Beyer was active in promoting high-tech industries and led the fight to eliminate disincentives in the Virginia Tax Code to high-tech research and development.

18.

Don Beyer is credited with writing the original welfare reform legislation in Virginia.

19.

Don Beyer was the Democratic nominee for governor in 1997, losing to Republican Jim Gilmore.

20.

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

21.

Don Beyer chaired the Mid Atlantic Finance Council of Obama for America campaign and served on the campaign's National Finance Council.

22.

The Democratic National Committee appointed Don Beyer to serve at the 2008 DNC Convention on the Credentials Committee.

23.

Obama nominated Don Beyer for United States Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein on June 12,2009.

24.

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

25.

In March 2013, Don Beyer received the Thomas Jefferson Award from American Citizens Abroad.

26.

Don 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.

27.

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

28.

In June 2017, Don Beyer renewed his call, sending a letter signed by more than 50 other House Democrats demanding that the White House immediately revoke Kushner's clearance, citing national security concerns.

29.

Don Beyer wrote the Cost of Police Misconduct Act, which proposed to create a publicly accessible federal database over police misconduct allegations and settlements.

30.

Don Beyer has two children, Don and Stephanie, from a previous marriage, and two grandchildren.