Walkinshaw’s frontrunner status sparks debate over fairness in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District Primary
A crowded field of Democrats is vying for the party’s nomination in the special election for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District.
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Walkinshaw’s frontrunner status sparks debate over fairness in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District Primary
A crowded field of Democrats is vying for the party’s nomination in the special election for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District. James Walkinshaw, Connolly’s chosen successor, appears to be the clear frontrunner, sparking concerns among rivals that the nomination process favors establishment candidates and also limits voter access.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced the special election date for Sept. 9 after Connolly, 75, died in May due to esophageal cancer. It came weeks after Connolly announced he would not seek reelection and would step down as the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee.
The 11th District Democratic committee announced a firehouse primary scheduled for June 28, giving candidates less than a month to make their case to voters.
Walkinshaw holds a 41% lead in a poll released by a PAC supporting his campaign. He is endorsed by Connolly — who, Walkinshaw says, persuaded him to run shortly after stepping down — as well as neighboring Rep. Don Beyer, D-VA08, and former Virginia House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn.
Other candidates are gaining some traction, including state Sen. Stella Pekarsky and Del. Irene Shin. All of the candidates are campaigning on a platform focused on opposing former President Donald Trump and protecting federal workers, 80,000 of whom live in Fairfax County.
Seven Republicans have also put their hats in the ring for a June 28 party primary, including Mike Van Meter, who lost to Connolly in 2024 by a 67-33% margin. They are unlikely to flip the deep blue district. Independent candidate Chandrashekar Tamirisa is also in the mix.