Connolly Declares Victory In 11th Congressional District Race

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Incumbent Democrat Rep. Gerry Connolly declared victory around 9:49 p.m. on election, claiming on social media that he had defeated Republican challenger Mike L. Van Meter in the 11th congressional race in Northern Virginia. Minutes later, the Associated Press projected him as the winner.

"Thank you to the voters of the 11th District of Virginia for once again putting your faith in me," Connolly told supporters. "Serving you is the honor of a lifetime and I will fight for our values in the next Congress."

Connolly, who was first elected to Congress in 2008, sought a ninth term in Virginia's 11th Congressional District in the Nov. 5 general election and faced Republican Van Meter.

For full coverage of the election in Virginia, go here.

Thank you to the voters of the 11th District of Virginia for once again putting your faith in me. Serving you is the honor of a lifetime and I will fight for our values in the next Congress. pic.twitter.com/g1r7vmWiS4
— Gerry Connolly (@ElectConnolly) November 6, 2024

The 11th district includes all of Fairfax City, and the towns of Clifton, Herndon and Vienna, and the portions of Fairfax County that are roughly west and south of the Capital Beltway/I-95 corridor. The District is described as solidly Democratic, according to the 2024 Cook Political Report's House Race Ratings.

Prior to his election to Congress in 2008, Connolly served as the chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and before that the Providence District supervisor.

After graduating from Harvard University with a master’s degree in public administration, Connolly worked for 10 years with the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, according to his campaign bio. During that time, he worked with then senator and future President Joe Biden. He then worked 20 years in the private sector in the information technology and government contracting industry.

A former commissioned officer and helicopter pilot in the U.S. Navy, Van Meter served as a police officer with the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., according to his campaign bio. Joining the FBI, he was assigned to the Dallas Division, where he investigated various violations and flew surveillance missions in support of the Dallas Division’s investigations.

Transferring to FBI headquarters in Quantico, Virginia, Van Meter worked as an instructor at the FBI National Academy. He later joined the National Joint Terrorism Task Force, Civil Aviation Security Program, acting as program manager for more than 450 airport liaison agents at federally controlled airports across the U.S. He retired after 20 years from the FBI in 2019.