On Saturday, voters in northern Virginia selected candidates from both major parties to compete in a special election to fill the seat left vacant by the late U.S. Representative Gerry Connolly. Connolly, a Democrat, represented the Washington-area district for 16 years before his recent passing.
The Democratic Party nominated James Walkinshaw, who currently serves on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and previously worked as Connolly’s chief of staff for over a decade. Walkinshaw, widely seen as the favorite, won against nine other Democratic contenders and had received Connolly’s endorsement prior to his death.
The Republicans chose Stewart Whitson, an Army veteran and former FBI agent, as their candidate. Whitson emphasized the need to support former President Trump’s agenda, expressing determination to win the seat for the GOP.
These candidates will face off in a special election scheduled for September 9 to represent Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, which includes Fairfax, Reston, and Vienna, and has a population of more than 700,000 residents. Political experts suggest that winning the Democratic primary often equates to securing the seat in this reliably Democratic area.
Connolly had most recently served as the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee before he died last month at age 75 after battling esophageal cancer. His passing shifted the balance in the House, giving Republicans a narrow majority.
The special election used “firehouse primaries” — party-run events rather than official government-run primaries — to choose the nominees.
Walkinshaw expressed gratitude for winning the Democratic nomination, highlighting the support from community members and volunteers who believe in defending democracy and working families. Whitson, on the other hand, called for a strong GOP effort to reclaim the seat and back efforts to improve the economy and protect families.
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