Falls Church businessman and former Virginia lieutenant governor Donald S. Beyer Jr. formally kicked off his campaign to fill the U.S. Congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Jim Moran with a rally at his car dealership in Falls Church Monday. A large contingent of women made it a Women for Beyer event, with a succession of women speakers supporting him to lay out issues vital to them, including income inequality, minimum wage, and a host of related issues. Among those who spoke for him was LuAnn Bennett (shown at the far left of the picture), a successful business leader and former wife of Rep. Moran who focused on what Beyer’s experience as a businessman — including a stint as president of the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce, will bring to his job if elected.

A growing field of candidates have jumped into the battle for the Democratic nomination with a June 10 primary slated. On last Saturday, Beyer, who served as Virginia’s lieutenant governor for eight years in the 1990s, attended an event in support of his election held at the home of Tom and Mary Margaret Whipple in North Arlington Lynda Robb, daughter of President Lyndon Johnson and former first lady of Virginia.