Democrat james Walkinshaw has won the special election for Virginia’s 11th Congressional district, filling the seat left vacant by the May death of Rep. Gerry Connolly at age 75. Walkinshaw, who served as Connolly’s chief of staff from 2009 to 2019, defeated Republican Stewart Whitson.
the district, located just outside Washington in northern Virginia, is considered a Democratic stronghold; Vice President Kamala Harris carried it with approximately two-thirds of the vote in the 2023 election. Walkinshaw also served on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors since 2020 and received Connolly’s endorsement prior to the former representative’s passing.
“James brings unmatched experience, a depth of knowledge about federal issues, and a steadfast commitment to progressive values,” Connolly said in an endorsement touted by the Walkinshaw campaign. “When I took office in 2009, appointing him Chief of Staff was one of the best decisions I made.”
With Walkinshaw’s victory,Democrats will hold 213 seats in the House of Representatives,while Republicans have 219,with three seats remaining vacant due to deaths and resignations.
Walkinshaw’s arrival in Congress could shift the balance on key votes,including a potential vote to release all files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Lawmakers were reportedly just two members short of forcing a vote on the documents’ release as of last Wednesday. Goverment funding,set to expire at the end of the month,also presents a looming challenge.During his campaign, Walkinshaw criticized former President Donald Trump’s cuts to the federal workforce, a key issue in a district with a high concentration of federal employees. “Federal employees,know that millions of us honour your service and sacrifice,” Walkinshaw wrote on X in August. “I’ll fight to end Trump’s attacks on our nonpartisan civil service and build a government that works for all.”
Another special election to fill a vacant seat in Congress, for the late Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona, is scheduled for September 23.
