On Tuesday, Sept. 9, Fairfax County Supervisor and Democrat James Walkinshaw, defeated Republican Stewart Whitson to win the special election for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, a seat left vacant by Walkinshaw’s former boss, the late Congressman Gerry Connolly.
Walkinshaw won decisively, taking 74.9 percent of the vote to Whitson’s 25.1 percent, with 146,259 ballots cast. His victory narrows the Republican majority in the House to 219 to 213.
Prior to serving as a Fairfax County Councilman in 2019, Walkinshaw served as Connolly’s longtime chief of staff. Connolly’s seat has been vacant since his death from cancer last May.
Walkinshaw’s victory was expected. Virginia’s 11th Congressional District has been in Democratic hands continuously since 2008.
The district is home to tens of thousands of government workers and contractors, and federal layoffs, spurred by the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), have significantly impacted local employment, a key campaign issue for Walkinshaw.
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Whitson said Trump became a focal point of the campaign because he consistently advocates for “great policies” that are “centered on…common sense.” He told Fox News, “Those in my district who are unemployed or worried about losing their jobs don’t need sympathy. They need solutions.”
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On human rights
Regarding the issue of the Chinese Communist Party’s human rights violations, which concerns his constituency, Walkinshaw publicly stated, “I have always been deeply concerned about human rights violations in China. I am also concerned about Beijing’s cross-border repression. It is crucial for the United States to speak out for human rights and oppose human rights abuses.” He also pledged to carry on Congressman Connolly’s legacy and support the human rights of Falun Gong practitioners and all other oppressed people.
Whitson also holds a strong stance on human rights, believing it is a matter of national security and sovereignty. He once said, “The threat from China is the greatest national security threat our country faces. But the most terrifying thing is that this threat comes not only from abroad, but also from within.” He also said that as a former FBI agent, “I have witnessed firsthand how serious this is, and we must stand up to it. What is the solution? In a word, it’s strength.”
On Tuesday night, after securing his victory, Walkinshaw addressed a crowd of supporters, saying: “To our beloved late Congressman Connolly — thank you for your mentorship, your vision, and for showing me, and all of us, what principled leadership looks like. I know he would be proud of what we have built together.”
