Healthcare Entrepreneur Dan Lee 9th Democrat To Enter 11th District Race For Congress

FAIRFAX, VA — Dan Lee, a healthcare technology entrepreneur, announced on Tuesday that he is running to fill the vacant seat in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, following the recent death of incumbent Gerry Connolly.

Born and raised in Fairfax County to working-class immigrant parents from South Korea, Lee is a product of Fairfax County Public Schools. To put himself through college, Lee mopped floors and later served in the White House, at the World Bank, and as a senior aide to the Democratic chief of staff for the governor of Massachusetts, according to a campaign release.

After studying biological sciences at George Washington University, Lee earned graduate degrees in public health and business administration from Dartmouth College.

When Lee's father, who was a small business owner, died of heart complications, his mother, a lifelong nurse, lacked insurance until Medicare kicked in. After she was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, Lee moved home to become her caregiver.

Also See:

• National Security Expert, Ex-CIA Operations Officer Enters 11th District Race
• 2 More Democrats Enter 11th District Congressional Race
• 11th District Voters Will Cast Ballots In Special Election To Fill Congressional Seat
• Choosing Connolly's Successor In Congress: What To Know
• VA Congressman To Retire As Cancer Returns Following Treatment

“The healthcare industry’s current arrangement was designed to maximize profit, not wellbeing,” Lee said in a campaign release. “My work alleviating the load for patients navigating Medicare, Medicaid, insurers, and providers — to say nothing of my time caring for my mother — has shown me that reform needs to bolster the programs keeping Virginians healthy and curb corporate interests from putting profit over patients.”

Lee joins eight other Democrats, three Republicans and one independent candidate who have already announced their intentions to run in the Sept. 9 special election.

Democrats

• Joshua Aisen
• Planning Commissioner Candice Bennett (D-At-Large)
• Dan Lee
• Leo Martínez
• Amy Papanu
• State Sen. Stella Pekarsky (D-Centreville)
• Amy Roma
• Del. Irene Shin (D-Herndon)
• Supervisor James Walkinshaw (D-Braddock)

Republican

• Nathan Headrick
• Karina Lipsman
• Republican Michael Van Meter

Independent

• Chandra Tamirisa

The race to fill Connolly's seat began in April when the congressman said he would not seek reelection in 2026 due to health concerns. Last November, Connolly revealed that he'd been diagnosed with esophageal cancer and was receiving chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatment.

On May 21, Connolly's family announced that he died at the age of 75.

Democrats To Hold Firehouse Primary To Choose Candidate

The 11th District Congressional District Democratic Committee will host a Firehouse Primary on Saturday, June 28, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to choose the Democratic nominee to fill the vacant congressional seat. The committee has also scheduled an early voting day on Thursday, June 26, from 3 to 8 p.m.

Additional early voting opportunities are being considered, with dates and locations currently under consideration, with both Election Day and early voting locations being finalized.

“The 11th District Committee is working very hard to make this primary a robust process that is inclusive and accessible, with a broad distribution of voting locations on caucus day,” said Manisha Singh, committee chair. “We have a variety of excellent candidates, and I look forward to hearing more from each of them. We will unite behind the eventual Democratic nominee and ensure strong, continued representation for the 11th District — as we have relied on since 2009.”

Also See:

• Fairfax County Supervisor To Run For Connolly's Seat In Congress
• 2nd Democrat Announces Bid To Seek Connolly's Seat In Congress
• Fairfax Leaders Endorse Democrat In Race To Succeed Connolly
• GOP Candidate Running For Connolly's Congressional Seat In 11th District Race

The candidate filing will open on Wednesday, June 11, at noon and will close on Wednesday, June 18 at 5 p.m.

Filing requirements and updates regarding the caucus process will be available at www.VA11Votes.com.

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