Walkinshaw wins Democratic Primary

Fairfax County Supervisor James Walkinshaw (Braddock) has won the Democratic nomination for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District.

Voters overwhelmingly elected Walkinshaw in a firehouse primary on June 28 organized by the 11th Congressional District Democratic Committee in partnership with the Democratic Party of Virginia and local committees.

Walkinshaw will face the Republican nominee Stewart Whitson in a special election on Sept. 9 to fill the seat formerly held by the late Rep. Gerry Connolly. Walkinshaw was Connolly’s chief of staff before he was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2019.

Related story: Whitson wins Republican Primary for Congress

More than 59 percent of voters went for Walkinshaw. Del. Irene Shin came in second with just over 14 percent of the vote. State Sen. Stella Pekarsky got slightly more than 13 percent, and Amy Roma got 7 percent. None of the other six candidates got more than 2 percent. A total of 37,624 people voted.

“I’m honored and humbled to have earned the Democratic nomination for the district I’ve spent my career serving,” Walkinshaw said. “This victory was powered by neighbors, volunteers, and supporters who believe in protecting our democracy, defending our freedoms, and delivering for working families.”

“I’m especially grateful to my wife, Yvette, our son, Mateo, and to the Connolly family – Smitty and Caitlin – for standing with me as we carry Gerry’s legacy forward,” he said. “The real work begins now, and I’m ready to fight with everything I’ve got.”

Walkinshaw heads into the special election with a broad coalition of support, including more than 1,500 grassroots donors, hundreds of volunteers, and endorsements from over 55 elected leaders.

Related story: Walkinshaw launches congressional campaign

“I deeply appreciate the volunteers who sacrificed hundreds of hours to ensure a smooth, fair, and transparent election. Democracy doesn’t just happen – it works because people step up and make it work,” Walkinshaw said.

“I also want to thank the other nine amazing Democrats who stepped up to run,” he said. “Putting yourself out there to run for office is not easy, and they each brought real strengths to the race.”