Former Connolly Aide Wins Democratic Nomination in Northern Virginia Special Election
James Walkinshaw, a longtime political aide and local official, has secured the Democratic nomination to succeed the late Rep. Gerry Connolly in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, a solidly Democratic seat in the Washington, D.C. suburbs.
Walkinshaw emerged victorious in Saturday’s party-run primary, earning 59.54% of the vote, according to results released by the 11th Congressional District Democratic Committee of Virginia. He defeated nine other contenders, including state Senator Stella Pekarsky and Delegate Irene Shin.
Shin placed second with 14.27% of the vote, while Pekarsky finished third at 13.40%.
A former chief of staff to Connolly from 2009 to 2019, Walkinshaw currently serves on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, a position he’s held since 2020. Before his death, Connolly had endorsed Walkinshaw as his preferred successor.
Walkinshaw centered his campaign on opposing what he described as former President Donald Trump’s “dangerous” political agenda and pledged to advocate for the more than 50,000 federal employees who reside in the district. Following his win, he thanked supporters in a post on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “I’m honored and humbled to have earned the Democratic nomination for the district I’ve spent my career serving… This victory was powered by neighbors, volunteers, and supporters who believe in protecting our democracy, defending our freedoms, and delivering for working families.”
The primary attracted significant outside spending. Walkinshaw received over $2.4 million in backing from political action committees including Fight for Virginia’s Future and Protect Progress. Meanwhile, Save Democracy PAC spent more than $160,000 in support of Pekarsky, and People Over Monopolies invested nearly $184,000 promoting Shin.
Fight for Virginia’s Future also funded attack ads and robocalls targeting Pekarsky, criticizing her support for legislation that could lead to a casino referendum in Fairfax County.
With the nomination secured, Walkinshaw will face Republican Stewart Whitson—a U.S. Army veteran and former FBI official—in the September special election. The seat is widely expected to remain in Democratic hands; Vice President Kamala Harris carried the district by 34 points in the 2024 presidential election.
