Democrat James Walkinshaw wins race for vacant, deep-blue Virginia House seat

NBC News projects victory for the Fairfax County supervisor, who will bolster Democrats' numbers amid fights over government spending and the Epstein files.

James Walkinshaw(Photo public domain)

Democrats gained more than just another seat in Congress on Tuesday night. With James Walkinshaw’s decisive victory in Virginia’s 11th District, the party reinforced its ranks, honored the legacy of the late Rep. Gerry Connolly, and sent a clear message: northern Virginia is not buying what Donald Trump and his Republican allies are selling.

NBC News projected Walkinshaw as the winner in the deep-blue district, filling the seat left vacant after Connolly’s death in May. Walkinshaw, a close confidant of Connolly who spent a decade as his chief of staff, campaigned as a fighter for federal workers, progressive values, and accountability in government.

When he is sworn in, Democrats will hold 213 seats in the House compared to Republicans’ 219, with three vacancies still pending. That slim margin means every single addition matters — and Walkinshaw’s arrival could be decisive on several fronts.

Most immediately, he strengthens the effort to force a vote on releasing the long-suppressed Jeffrey Epstein files. Lawmakers were just two members short of the threshold needed to bring the measure to the floor last week. With Walkinshaw on board, the movement for transparency inches closer to victory, despite Republican attempts to bury the truth.

Walkinshaw’s election also lands as Congress stares down another manufactured crisis: government funding is set to expire at the end of the month. Republicans are already sharpening their knives for another reckless showdown. Adding another Democrat committed to keeping government open — and defending the civil service against partisan sabotage — could prove critical.

His Republican opponent, Stewart Whitson, never stood much of a chance in a district Kamala Harris carried by nearly two-thirds of the vote in 2024. But the fact that Trump-aligned Republicans continue to field candidates in such deep-blue territory shows their determination to spread his brand of chaos everywhere, regardless of the odds.

Walkinshaw didn’t just run against a Republican. He ran against Trumpism itself — specifically, Trump’s long war on federal workers. In a district where countless residents serve the nation as public employees, his promise to fight back against Trump’s cuts resonated deeply.

“Federal employees, know that millions of us honor your service and sacrifice,” Walkinshaw posted in August. “I’ll fight to end Trump’s attacks on our nonpartisan civil service and build a government that works for all.”

James Walkinshaw in Reston, Va., on June 24.Craig Hudson for The Washington Post via Getty Images file

Connolly, before his passing, made it clear who he trusted to carry his legacy. “James brings unmatched experience, a depth of knowledge about federal issues, and a steadfast commitment to progressive values,” Connolly said. “When I took office in 2009, appointing him Chief of Staff was one of the best decisions I made.” Walkinshaw now carries that endorsement into Congress, ready to make his late mentor proud.

Make no mistake: this is more than a routine special election. Walkinshaw’s win shores up Democratic numbers, bolsters the push for transparency on Epstein, and offers a rebuke to Trump’s campaign of cruelty against America’s public servants.

The road ahead won’t be easy — Republicans still control the House, and the MAGA faction is as destructive as ever. But victories like this prove that even in times of division, voters in key districts are choosing competence over chaos, accountability over conspiracy, and progress over regression.

Walkinshaw’s swearing-in will not just add another vote to the Democratic column. It will add a voice committed to resisting Trumpism, defending democracy, and ensuring the House reflects the values of the people — not the vendettas of one disgraced former president.