Since then , it has remained Democratic at the presidential level and along with northern Virginia , has kept the state of Virginia in the Democratic column .
In 2008 , Barack Obama became the first Democrat to carry the metropolitan area in decades .
Since then , it has remained Democrat at the presidential level and along with northern Virginia , has kept the state of Virginia in the Democrat column .
In 2008 , Barack Obama became the first Democrat to carry the metropolitan area in decades .