Following a short few weeks of intense political engagement and several days of firehouse primary caucus and canvass, both major parties have now selected their nominees for the September 9th Special Election in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District. The race, triggered by the passing of longtime Democratic Congressman Gerald Connolly on May 21st, promises to be one of the most closely watched contests in the Commonwealth this year.
Democrats Rally Behind Walkinshaw After Historic Turnout
Democratic voters turned out in record numbers for a firehouse primary that saw 37,624 votes cast over three days of early voting and election day balloting. The 11th Congressional District Democratic Committee declared James Walkinshaw the winner with an unofficial total of 22,403 votes—representing 59.54% of the vote—in what is now the highest-turnout firehouse primary in Virginia history.
“We were fortunate to have 10 candidates to choose from in an intense and robust campaign, and we offer our sincere gratitude to all who participated,” said 11th CDDC Chair Manisha Singh. “Democrats turned out in record numbers and put Republicans on notice that we reject their extreme agenda. It is now time for us to unite behind the Democratic nominee, James Walkinshaw, and send him to Congress on September 9th.”
Walkinshaw, a former aide to Rep. Connolly and a member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, now carries the party banner into the general election. The full (official) Democratic primary results will be posted on the following VA Dems 11th Congressional District website.
Republicans Choose Whitson in Energetic Canvass
On the Republican side, Stewart Whitson emerged victorious from Saturday’s GOP Canvass held at Fairfax High School, following early voting on Friday, June 27th. A total of 2,601 Republican voters cast ballots over the two days in what party leaders called a strong showing of enthusiasm for flipping the district red for the first time since 2009.
“The turnout shows that 11th District Republicans are fired up and ready to flip the 11th District red,” said Rosie Oakley, Chair of the 11th Congressional District Republican Committee. “While the Democrats spent time rigging their primary for an establishment candidate who wants to raise taxes and continue the useless investigations of President Trump, we had a fair and open process that selected a true conservative fighter, ready to represent the concerns of Virginia families.”
Whitson, a conservative legal advocate and former federal prosecutor, positioned himself as a reformer focused on fiscal responsibility and government accountability—messages aimed at the district’s approximately 80,000 federal workers and suburban voters.
“This is a new day for the Republican Party in Northern Virginia,” Oakley added. “With Stewart Whitson as our nominee, we’re ready to take our conservative message directly to the voters and win this seat back for the people of the 11th District.”
All Eyes on September 9
The stage is now set for a competitive general election in a district long dominated by Democrats but seen by Republicans as ripe for an upset in a lower-turnout special election. Early voting begins on July 25, 2025, and both parties are expected to mobilize heavily over the summer.
With contrasting visions and energized bases, the Walkinshaw–Whitson faceoff will be a bellwether for suburban political trends in Northern Virginia—and possibly a preview of national dynamics heading into 2026.
Author
Tania Hossain is the editor, publisher, and co-owner of The Independent News Press, a consortium of local print and online newspapers in Virginia. She focuses on writing about community issues and advocates for local newspapers, both print and online, especially in the age of Ai from selfie filters to betting on military strikes. A Merrifield resident, she is a keen backyard gardener, loves forest bathing and a curious biohacker, believing that proactive health keeps one out of the costly illness industry. Inspired by Oprah Winfrey's O Magazine launch, she feels fortunate to be running this newspaper.
