Walkinshaw Pledges To Take On Trump, DOGE In U.S. House

FAIRFAX, VA —Democrat James Walkinshaw’s campaign to win Virginia’s 11th District Congressional race ended in a decisive victory Tuesday night as the Braddock District supervisor garnered about 75 percent of the votes cast in the special election over Republican Stewart Whitson.

“It feels good,” the congressman-elect told Patch during a post-election party at Tandoori Fairfax. “It's been a sprint of a campaign, but we worked really hard. I think we connected with voters and stayed focused on the issues that matter to them. The results reflect that.”

What voters told him overwhelmingly were their concerns and outrage over President Donald Trump’s policies and DOGE cuts to federal agencies. The agency started by billionaire Elon Musk was responsible for mass layoffs that directly impacted many residents of the 11th Congressional District.

“They were looking for somebody who was willing to take that on, but also had the experience,” he said.

Walkinshaw already has experience on Capitol Hill, having served more than a decade as the late U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly's chief of staff.

Before Connolly's death on May 21, the congressman had endorsed Walkinshaw as the person he wanted to succeed him in Congress. Connolly’s widow, Smitty, and daughter, Caitlin, both spoke during Tuesday night’s victory party.

“For 16 years, Gerry served us, represented us in Congress, and the hallmark of who he was, not only as our congressman, our representative, but also as our supervisor, as our elected leader, was his kindness, his openness, his other-centeredness, his listening ear, but also his courage, his strength, his willing to fight and give everything he had for us,” Smitty Connolly said. “Those characteristics made him a marvelous public servant, which is the way he always thought of himself. Those are the characteristics that he saw, that I see, and that Caitlin sees in James Walkinshaw.”

“Dad understood that elections were sacred in this country,” Caitlin Connolly said. “We don't take them for granted. It is an opportunity for the people of every district, whenever there is an election, to say what they want their representatives to be and to advocate on their behalf and what they want their futures to look like. And tonight, they decided they wanted James Walkinshaw to represent them.”

Also See …

• Walkinshaw Claims VA’s 11th Congressional District, Keeping Seat Blue
• Stopping DOGE Job Cuts, Public Safety Top Priorities In Congressional Race
• Immigration, Climate Change, School Funding Debated During Reston Forum
• 11th District GOP Candidates Spent Half Of Money Raised For Primary

U.S. Rep. Eugene Vindman (D), who represents the Fredericksburg area in Congress, said Walkinshaw’s victory sent a clear message to the country and the world.

“In less than two months, we have another election here in Virginia that's going to be absolutely critical, and we have a steady march,” he said. “As we celebrate tonight, and I guess I'm the official welcome party, I am so proud to have another Democratic vote, a stalwart in Congress where the margins are so razor thin. We need James.”