Fairfax County residents cast their ballots in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District special election on Sept. 9, declaring Democrat James Walkinshaw as the winner. Walkinshaw was sworn into office the morning after, officially becoming Virginia’s 11th District Representative.
“A special election occurs anytime there’s a vacancy in a congressional seat,” AP Government teacher Amanda Williams said. “It could mean that someone passed away like in the case of Gerry Connolly or they’ve taken another role and left their spot open.”
According to the Associated Press, Walkinshaw won by a margin of over 70,000 votes against Republican candidate Stewart Whiston. This special election marks the largest winning percentage by a candidate since Connolly’s unopposed run in 2016.
“I wasn’t able to vote in this special election, but Walkinshaw’s victory did not come as a significant surprise, given his status as a Democrat in a predominantly Democratic district,“ senior Daanial Pasha said.
The 11th Congressional District encompasses most of Fairfax County, including Herndon, Chantilly and Springfield. Though most McLean neighborhoods reside in the 8th Congressional District, Walkinshaw’s policies can still impact McLean students and families.
“Walkinshaw has articulated a clear commitment to improving the lives of federal employees and reducing government layoffs,” Pasha said. “In a district where many residents are employed by the government and commute to D.C., particularly during a period when federal jobs are at risk, his focus on supporting government workers is crucial to the district’s well-being.”
Walkinshaw served as Connolly’s chief of staff from 2009 to 2019. In 2019, he joined the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, where he left a notable impression for Fairfax County residents.
“During his tenure as Chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ Legislative Committee, he played a pivotal role in promoting the implementation of red flag laws in Virginia to remove firearms from individuals who pose a risk of harm and in advocating for more effective funding of FCPS,” Pasha said. “One area for potential improvement is that, during his time on the County Board, homeowners experienced increased tax burdens and significant real estate tax hikes. Hopefully, Walkinshaw will address these financial pressures while serving in Congress.”
Virginia voters will take to the polls on Nov. 4 for the 2025 gubernatorial election, including many McLean students who are casting their first vote.
“It’s important to vote because it’s something that a lot of people fought really hard for in our past. There were periods of time where there were demographic groups that were not eligible to vote so it’s important to honor people who fought that hard to give us that right,” Williams said. “Voting is a way for you to have a say in policies that impact you and the people you care about, even if you don’t always feel the direct impact of that vote.”
