Democrat James Walkinshaw has received Virginia’s deep-blue eleventh Congressional District, NBC Information tasks, an anticipated win for his occasion that provides one other Democrat to the narrowly divided Home of Representatives.
The seat that had been vacant for the reason that late Rep. Gerry Connolly died in Might on the age of 75 following a battle with esophageal most cancers. Walkinshaw spent a decade as a high aide to Connolly.
Democrats may have 213 representatives in Congress as soon as Walkinshaw is sworn in, whereas Republicans have 219 representatives, with three seats nonetheless vacant attributable to deaths and resignations. A variety of key votes loom on the horizon.
Walkinshaw may carry Democrats and a handful of Republicans nearer to forcing a vote to launch all information associated to convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein. As of final Wednesday, lawmakers have been simply two members away from with the ability to pressure a vote on whether or not to launch the paperwork.
Authorities funding can also be set to run out on the finish of the month, one other supply of battle in Washington.
Walkinshaw confronted off in opposition to Republican Stewart Whitson, who served in a high function at an advocacy group, for the seat simply exterior Washington in Northern Virginia, which then-Vice President Kamala Harris carried with about two-thirds of the vote in 2024.
Walkinshaw beforehand served as Connolly’s chief of employees from 2009 to 2019, and he earned his late boss’ endorsement earlier than Connolly’s demise. Walkinshaw additionally served on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors since 2020.
“James brings unmatched expertise, a depth of information about federal points, and a steadfast dedication to progressive values,” Connolly mentioned in an endorsement touted by the Walkinshaw marketing campaign. “After I took workplace in 2009, appointing him Chief of Workers was among the finest selections I made.”
Walkinshaw leaned into criticism of President Donald Trump’s cuts to the federal workforce throughout his marketing campaign. The district has a very excessive focus of federal employees.
“Federal staff, know that tens of millions of us honor your service and sacrifice,” Walkinshaw wrote on X in August. “I’ll struggle to finish Trump’s assaults on our nonpartisan civil service and construct a authorities that works for all.”
Extra particular elections to fill vacant seats in Congress are on faucet for later this yr. The subsequent one, for the late Rep. Raul Grijalva’s, D-Ariz., seat, will happen in two weeks, on Sept. 23.
