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3d ago

Walkinshaw Clinches Democratic Nomination for Connolly’s Virginia Seat

The general election is set for Sept. 9 in a district reshaped by millions in outside spending following a compressed firehouse primary.

Gerry Connolly in Washington, D.C., on March 5, 2025.
FILE - Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., listens at an event, Oct. 22, 2020, in Fairfax, Va. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)
Fairfax County Supervisor and former Chief of Staff to the late U.S. Representative Gerald Connolly (D-VA) James Walkinshaw (D) speaks during the Congressional District 11 Candidates Forum at the Reston Community Center on June 24, 2025 in Reston, VA.
Fairfax County Supervisor James Walkinshaw, here outside a polling location in Herndon, Va., on June 17, is the Democratic nominee in the special election for the commonwealth's 11th District. (Maxine Wallace/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Overview

  • James Walkinshaw won about 60% of the vote in Saturday’s party-run primary, outpacing nine Democratic contenders.
  • He secured an endorsement from the late Rep. Gerry Connolly and draws on a decade of experience as Connolly’s chief of staff.
  • Walkinshaw will face Republican Stewart Whitson, an Army veteran and former FBI official, in the Sept. 9 special election.
  • Virginia’s 11th District, home to a large federal workforce and a 34-point advantage for Kamala Harris in 2024, makes Walkinshaw the heavy favorite.
  • Outside groups poured over $2.4 million into Walkinshaw’s bid and six-figure sums into rivals, underscoring the race’s high stakes.