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James L. Walkinshaw was sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives on Sept. 10, 2025, one day after winning a decisive special-election victory in Virginia’s heavily Democratic 11th Congressional District.
House Speaker Mike Johnson administered the oath of office to Walkinshaw, a 42-year-old Democrat who served on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and previously worked as an aide to the late Rep. Gerry Connolly.
Walkinshaw received 113,596 votes, or 75.14% of the total, defeating Republican Stewart L. Whitson, 45.
“The voters of Fairfax have spoken clearly: they want a representative who will fight for our community and deliver results,” Walkinshaw said on election night. He pledged to address affordability, protect personal freedoms and give the district a strong voice in Congress.
Whitson congratulated Walkinshaw and thanked those who participated in the election, saying democracy is strongest when voters engage.
New congressman targets executive power
On the day he took office, Walkinshaw introduced the Limit on Sweeping Executive Reorganization Act. The legislation would bar a president from reorganizing or dismantling federal agencies without congressional approval.
“Congress — not a President and his billionaire oligarch — must have the final say when it comes to major reorganizations of our federal government,” Walkinshaw said.
He also became a co-sponsor of the Delete DOGE Act, a proposal that would repeal and prohibit what the legislation calls the “dangerous DOGE framework.”
The special election was called after Connolly died of cancer while in office on May 21. The 11th District includes much of Fairfax County and all of Fairfax City.
The district has 555,169 registered voters. In the November 2024 U.S. House election, its partisan lean was measured at 66.7% Democratic and 32.9% Republican. Virginia voters do not register by political party.
Walkinshaw also entered the final stretch with a substantial fundraising advantage. As of Aug. 20, 2025, he had raised $1,061,597, compared with $224,469 for Whitson.
His campaign presented the election as a chance to oppose the Trump administration’s agenda and emphasized his relationship with Connolly’s family and his desire to continue the late congressman’s legacy.
Herndon resident Andrea Tassan said Connolly’s endorsement influenced her support for Walkinshaw. Justin Britt, also of Herndon, said he wanted a representative willing to stand up to the Republican Party.
Arjun, a teenage poll volunteer from McLean, said he would have supported Walkinshaw if he were old enough to vote because he believed the Democrat would challenge Trump and Republican policies.
Whitson campaigned on an “America First” platform organized around three priorities: fixing the economy, protecting families and eliminating waste, fraud and abuse. Fairfax GOP Chair Katie Gorka said Republicans would rally behind him after he prevailed in a seven-candidate nomination contest. Former primary rival Mike Van Meter also publicly urged Republicans to give Whitson their full support.
Walkinshaw’s departure triggers another vacancy
Walkinshaw resigned from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors effective at 9 a.m. on Sept. 10.
He described the opening as a “temporary vacancy” and said Board Chairman Jeff McKay would continue representing the district. The Braddock District office and its staff will remain in place and can be reached at braddock@fairfaxcounty.gov or 703-425-9300.
A special election to replace Walkinshaw on the Board of Supervisors is likely to be held in December. Democrats Ilryong Moon, an at-large School Board member; Rachna Sizemore Heizer, the Braddock District School Board member; and Sabrina Mattin appear poised to seek their party’s nomination. Ken Balbuena is so far the apparent Republican contender.
A victory by either Moon or Sizemore Heizer would create another vacancy and require an additional special election for the Fairfax County School Board.