Democrat James Walkinshaw Wins Race For Vacant, Deep-blue Virginia House Seat

Democrat James Walkinshaw has won Virginia’s deep-blue 11th Congressional District, NBC News projects, an expected triumph for his statement that adds different Democrat to nan narrowly divided House of Representatives.

The spot that had been vacant since nan precocious Rep. Gerry Connolly died successful May astatine nan property of 75 pursuing a conflict pinch esophageal cancer. Walkinshaw spent a decade arsenic a apical adjutant to Connolly.

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Democrats will person 213 representatives successful Congress erstwhile Walkinshaw is sworn in, while Republicans person 219 representatives, pinch 3 seats still vacant owed to deaths and resignations. A number of cardinal votes loom connected nan horizon.

Walkinshaw could bring Democrats and a fistful of Republicans person to forcing a ballot to merchandise each files related to convicted activity offender Jeffrey Epstein. As of past Wednesday, lawmakers were conscionable two members distant from being capable to unit a ballot connected whether to merchandise nan documents.

Government backing is besides group to expire astatine nan extremity of nan month, different root of conflict successful Washington.

Walkinshaw faced disconnected against Republican Stewart Whitson, who served successful a apical domiciled astatine an defense group, for nan spot conscionable extracurricular Washington successful Northern Virginia, which then-Vice President Kamala Harris carried pinch astir two-thirds of nan ballot successful 2024.

Walkinshaw antecedently served arsenic Connolly’s main of unit from 2009 to 2019, and he earned his precocious boss’ endorsement earlier Connolly's death. Walkinshaw besides served connected nan Fairfax County Board of Supervisors since 2020.

“James brings unmatched experience, a extent of knowledge astir national issues, and a patient committedness to progressive values,” Connolly said successful an endorsement touted by nan Walkinshaw campaign. “When I took agency successful 2009, appointing him Chief of Staff was 1 of nan champion decisions I made.”

Walkinshaw leaned into disapproval of President Donald Trump’s cuts to nan national workforce during his campaign. The territory has a peculiarly precocious attraction of national workers.

“Federal employees, cognize that millions of america grant your work and sacrifice,” Walkinshaw wrote connected X successful August. “I’ll conflict to extremity Trump’s attacks connected our nonpartisan civilian work and build a authorities that useful for all.”

More typical elections to capable vacant seats successful Congress are connected pat for later this year. The adjacent one, for nan precocious Rep. Raul Grijalva's, D-Ariz., seat, will return spot successful 2 weeks, connected Sept. 23.