Walkinshaw Campaign Celebrates Win, Looks Ahead To Special Election

FAIRFAX, VA — Twenty-four hours after the voting ended in Saturday's 11th Congressional District Democratic Firehouse Primary, James Walkinshaw and his supporters gathered at Caboose Commons in the Mosaic District for a victory party.

The Braddock District supervisor had reason to celebrate. Walkinshaw garnered 22,403 of the 37,624 votes cast, easily defeating fellow Democrats Candice Bennett, Dan Lee, Leo Martínez, Amy Papanu, Stella Pekarsky, Amy Roma, and Irene Shin, according to unofficial results.

"I am humbled to stand before you tonight as a Democratic nominee for Congress in Virginia's 11th congressional district," Walkinshaw said, before a crowd of about 100 people. "With almost 60 percent of the vote, we sent a powerful message yesterday that Democrats in Fairfax are unified, Democrats in Fairfax are energized, and we are ready to take the fight to Donald Trump and his MAGA allies in Congress."

Walkinshaw will next face Republican Stewart Whitson and independent Chandra Tamirisa in the Sept. 9 special election that will determine who will succeed former U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly, who died on May 21. Early voting for the special election begins on July 25.

Smitty and Caitlin Connolly, the former congressman's widow and daughter, respectively, spoke during Sunday night's gathering. They voiced their support for Walkinshaw, who had served as Connolly's chief of staff on Capitol Hill for 11 years.

"Knowing that Gerry asked James to run to succeed him and to win for us, it's closing the loop," Smitty Connolly told the crowd. "Before he passed, Gerry asked us to get out there and help James win. I'm so proud of James and of everyone who worked for him. I feel as if I honored the request that Gerry gave us, but I didn't do it just because Gerry asked us. We did it because we believe in James."

Walkinshaw thanked Smitty and Caitlin Connolly, as well as all of the people the who worked and supported his campaign leading up to Saturday's primary.

"Gerry Connolly, thank you for your mentorship, your vision in showing me and all of us what principled leadership looks like," Walkinshaw said. "I know very much you would be proud of what we have built together and what we've accomplished in this campaign, and he's watching right now."

While Walkinshaw acknowledged his victory in the primary, he told the crowd that it was just the beginning.

"We are not in a normal moment in this country," he said. "Donald Trump is violating the Constitution each and every day, illegally purging the federal workers, including our friends and neighbors and folks who are here with us today, disappearing people to foreign prisons and dismantling the institutions that hold our government and our democracy together."

View>>>Democratic Fire House Primary Unofficial Results

Walkinshaw called out the Republicans in Congress who were trying to pass what he called President Trump's "Big BS Budget Bill."

"That would strip health care from millions of Americans, make us less competitive with China by abandoning our investments in clean energy and blow a hole in the national debt by more than $4 trillion," he said. "That's what they're trying to do right now. That's what we're up against."

As he wrapped up, Walkinshaw shared the reasons that motivated him to run for Congress.

"I'm running so we can build something better, a government, an economy, a nation that actually works for all of us," he said. "A country where you have the freedom to make your own healthcare decisions, where our democracy and the rule of law is strengthened by our collective voices. But to do those things, we have to win in September."

Also See ...

• Democrats Announce Winner Of 11th District Firehouse Primary
• Stewart Whitson Wins GOP Canvass In 11th District Race
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• VA Congressman To Retire As Cancer Returns Following Treatment