Democrats have denied Republicans a chance to grow their narrow advantage in the U.S. House, after Democratic congressional candidate James Walkinshaw emerged victorious Tuesday night over Republican Stewart Whitson in the Special Election for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District.
Candidates were running to replace Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly, who lost his battle with cancer in May.
Walkinshaw took the win after receiving nearly 75% of the vote.
“Virginians are seeing Republicans for who they are: self-serving liars who will throw their constituents under the bus to rubber stamp Donald Trump’s disastrous agenda — and they’re ready for change,” Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said of the results. Rep-elect Walkinshaw’s victory continues the dominant trend we’re seeing so far this year – Democrats are massively overperforming in nearly every race. With elections in less than two months in the Commonwealth, Virginians are fired up and ready to hold Trump and Virginia Republicans accountable for their billionaire-first agenda.”
Democrats are working to flip as many seats as possible to break the narrow GOP majority in the House in the lead-up to the 2026 Midterms. Republicans currently hold 219, while Democrats have 212.
There are three other vacant seats following the deaths of Democratic U.S. Reps. Sylvester Turner, Raul Grijalva, and after the resignation of Republican Rep. Mark Green.
Virginia’s 11th Congressional District is situated in the Northern Virginia suburbs, including most of Fairfax County and the entirety of Fairfax City.
Walkinshaw was the heavy favorite — more than 62% of the district’s voters are registered Democrats, while just 22% are Republicans, according to the most recent L2 voter data.
Walkinshaw is Connolly’s former Chief of Staff and a Fairfax County Supervisor, whose priorities include protecting victims of domestic violence, reducing gun violence, investing in education, tackling climate change, protecting the environment, defending reproductive freedom, protecting federal employees, and protecting immigrant rights.
“This is our first chance to send a Democrat to Congress since Trump took office again,” Walkinshaw states on his campaign website. “My Republican opponent says he wants to be Trump’s ally in Congress, and Trump supporters are raising money to help him flip our district.”
Whitson is a military veteran and former FBI special agent currently working as a lobbyist. His priorities included fixing the economy, protecting families, and eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse.
“I didn’t risk my life overseas to come home and watch our elected leaders surrender our women, children, and families to cartels and predators,” Whitson said on his website. “I’m running for Congress to fight for you, your family, and to defend the values that make our nation great.”
As of the most recent data available from the Federal Election Commission, Walkinshaw has raised more than $1 million for the race, while Whitson collected just. $224,000.
