Special Election To Decide 11th Congressional Seat Sept. 9

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Voters in the 11th Congressional District will head to the polls Tuesday in a special election to choose who will succeed the late U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D), who died in May.

Last November, Connolly revealed he had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer and was receiving chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatment. However, the cancer returned and the congressman's family announced his death on May 21.

Two candidates are on the special election ballot: Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw (D) and Stewart Whitson (R), the senior director of federal affairs at the Foundation of Government Accountability, a conservative think tank. Both candidates earned their spot on the ballot by winning the June 28 primaries for their respective political parties.

Once polls close at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Patch will post the unofficial results as they become available from the Virginia Elections Office.

As of Saturday, which was the final day to vote in-person in the special election, 59,818 ballots had been cast during the early voting period, which started on July 31, according to the Fairfax County Office of Elections. About 10.89 percent of the 549,396 registered voters in the 11th District had cast ballots.

How To Vote In The Special Election

To vote on Election Day, visit your assigned polling place between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. An acceptable form of ID is required to vote in person. Same day registration is available only at your local polling place by completing a provisional ballot.

Although the 11th District is located entirely in Fairfax County, not all county residents reside in the district.

Five Fairfax County polling places will not be open during the special election: Mason Governmental Center, McLean Governmental Center, Mount Vernon Governmental Center, Thomas Jefferson Library and Tysons-Pimmit Library.

The deadline for returning a mail ballot in a drop box or by hand delivery to the election office is 7 p.m. on Sept. 9.

Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by Sept. 9 and received by noon on Sept. 12. Learn more.

More information for Fairfax County voters is available online.

Also See ...

• 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
• $2.2M Spent By Democrats In 11th District Congressional Primary
• Stewart Whitson Running For Congress To Listen, Represent Voters' Values
• Opposing Trump Policies Reason Walkinshaw Seeks To Succeed Connolly In Congress
• Independent Candidate Not On Ballot In 11th District Race
• Democrats Announce Winner Of 11th District Firehouse Primary
• Stewart Whitson Wins GOP Canvass In 11th District Race
• Virginia Congressman Dies After Cancer Diagnosis