Congressman Don Beyer (VA-8) won the National Press Club Spelling Bee on Wednesday, Oct. 21. The spelling bee, in which a team of lawmakers took on a team of reporters, ended in a split outcome with Beyer taking the individual championship and the team of reporters trouncing legislators in a nearly two to one victory to take home the team championship.
“It was great fun to be part of a bipartisan, bicameral team working together to try to defeat a common enemy – the press!” Beyer said in a press release about him winning the spelling bee. “Strangely enough the team of reporters – who spell words for a living – killed us!”
Surviving over 20 rounds, Beyer won the spelling bee on the word “apostasy.” The spelling bee has been held twice this century, with Virginia lawmakers winning both competitions. Two years ago, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine won the spelling on the word “nonpareil.”
