Stopping DOGE Job Cuts, Public Safety Top Priorities In Congressional Race

FAIRFAX, VA — With the Sept. 9 special election just over three weeks away, the two candidates running in Virginia's 11th Congressional District race to succeed former U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D) spoke to voters at a televised candidate forum.

On Monday, Republican Stewart Whitson and Democrat James Walkinshaw squared-off in the event hosted by the League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area.

The topics discussed during the forum ranged from reversing President Donald Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency's job cuts and preserving Medicaid funding, as well as restoring public safety and reducing taxes to spur economic growth.

View the full video of the LWVFA's Aug. 18 Candidate Forum

Near the beginning of the forum, moderator Catherine White asked both candidates to share their top two legislative priorities and explain why they are so important.

James Walkinshaw: Top 2 Legislative Priorities

“My top two legislative priorities are stopping the reckless Trump administration DOGE job cuts, and then rebuilding a federal government that works for us all. We have 80,000 federal workers right here in Fairfax, and every single night, families are sitting around their dinner table, and mom and dad are wondering how they will pay the mortgage, how they will afford groceries, because their job has been recklessly eliminated.

“They aren't firing low performers. DOGE and the Trump administration are indiscriminately firing federal workers, canceling and pausing contracts for small businesses, including veteran-owned small businesses in our community. So, legislative priority number one for me will be putting a stop to that.

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“After that, we will have to rebuild from the damage that's been done. That means working agency by agency to undo what's taken place and build back even better. And I think with the incredible talent that we have here in Northern Virginia, in our community, getting those folks back into federal agencies where they belong, we can do that.

“I’m in the middle of drafting legislation that would require any president, Democrat or Republican, to come to Congress before they can restructure or downsize federal agencies in a significant way, the way that the Trump administration has done. I’ll introduce that on day one.”

Stewart Whitson: Top 2 Legislative Priorities

“My top two priorities would be, first and foremost, restoring public safety, and second, empowering parents. I put public safety first on purpose, because if we don't feel safe in our communities, in our schools and on our streets, then nothing else matters.

"My opponent has a history of soft on crime policies and other efforts that have actually made us less safe in our community. He's focused on sanctuary city policy, which has encouraged people to come into our district who shouldn't be here, violent criminals who are bringing crime.

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• Early Voting Dates For Special Election In 11th Congressional District

“He's also defunded the police. There was a time when crime was on the rise in Fairfax County, we were short 200 law enforcement officers, and my opponent voted to give himself a $30,000 pay raise, and in the most recent budget in Fairfax County, he voted to eliminate 63 law enforcement officers. This is the wrong approach.

“My approach instead would be to work with federal agencies to help promote joint task forces with states to focus on violent crime. I'd also strengthen criminal laws to make sure that the most violent criminals are taken off the streets and kept off the streets.

“Recently, we had an abduction in plain daylight at Fair Oaks Mall. This was a person that had 30 prior convictions, and he was released with no bail. That is a big problem. That's something we have to stop, and so that's something I'll be committed with.”

The Aug. 18 forum was co-sponsored by the Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce, Fairfax County Alumnae Chapter Deta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated; Fairfax County Federation of Citizens Associations; Fairfax County Council PTA; Fairfax County NAACP; REV UP Virginia.

Early Voting Runs Through Sept 6

In-person, early voting for the Sept. 9 special election is underway and continues through Sept. 6. The election will decide who will succeed former U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11th), who served in Congress for 16 years before his death on May 21.