Virginia — 8th District

Here’s what you need to know about the Republican hopeful.

Age

Tony Sabio, 51, was born on Nov. 19, 1974.

Hometown

Sabio was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and grew up in San Diego, California.

He has lived in Virginia since 2002, giving him nearly 25 years in the commonwealth.

Sabio previously ran for Fairfax County School Board before launching his congressional campaign.

Education

Sabio attended Liberty University, where he studied sociology.

Family and religion

Sabio and his wife, Abigail, have five children. One of their children joined the family through adoption.

Sabio said he and Abigail met their son when he was 14, and the boy had been in Virginia’s foster care system since he was five.

“I’m actually a foster parent here in Virginia,” Sabio said. “That’s actually something important that we need to do more of.”

Faith also plays a central role in how Sabio says he approaches public service.

“There’s two things I live by,” he said. “One is my faith as a Christian, and the other one is the Constitution of the United States.”

Sabio said he considers both when making decisions, asking whether an action is constitutional and how it aligns with his faith and his desire to serve others.

Occupations

Sabio is a Navy veteran and former Secret Service and CIA officer. He spent more than 15 years in the federal government before moving into the private sector.

He said that experience gave him a broad understanding of how the federal government operates, including the impact government shutdowns can have on workers and communities.

“I understand what it takes to be in the federal government, and what the trials and tribulations of a government shutdown, and what affects the people,” Sabio said.

After leaving government, he said he moved into the private sector, helping build companies ranging from small “mom and pop” businesses to larger international operations.

“That’s the kind of things I want to actually bring to Virginia’s 8th District,” he said.

Major policy positions

Sabio’s campaign calls its platform the “Promise for America,” a comprehensive five-part “Day One” agenda focused on what he says are the biggest concerns facing northern Virginia.

The five proposals are:

Energy Affordability & American Power Act

American Jobs & Opportunity Act

Small Business First Act

Safe Communities & Secure America Act

American Health Freedom Plan

The agenda focuses on lowering energy costs, creating jobs that are not dependent on the federal government, supporting small businesses, improving public safety, and expanding healthcare choices through price transparency.

Sabio said the proposals were developed through conversations with residents rather than solely by his campaign.

“The Promise for America was built off conversation with people and understanding what their needs are,” Sabio said. “Congress has lost sight of that. It’s about what we do to serve the people.”

Sabio knows he needs to appeal beyond the Republican base, and believes voters should focus on areas where they agree rather than party labels.

“There’s more that unites us than divides us,” he said.

Hobbies

When he’s not campaigning, Sabio says one of his favorite pastimes is riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle — even though his wife isn’t a fan.

“I can tell you this — that my wife hates it,” Sabio joked.

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His career has taken him around the world, but riding his motorcycle through Virginia offers something different.

“I’ve done everything out there, jumping out of planes, rock climbing,” Sabio said. “It gives me a nice pleasure just to ride, just to be able to see the scenery and really get in tune, especially with my faith.”