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2025 Virginia's 11th congressional district special election

Updated: Wikipedia source

2025 Virginia's 11th congressional district special election

A special election to determine the member of the United States House of Representatives for Virginia's 11th congressional district was held on September 9, 2025. The seat became vacant following the death of Democrat Gerry Connolly on May 21, 2025. The district was considered safely Democratic. Fairfax County Supervisor James Walkinshaw won the Democratic primary with 59% of the vote, defeating Irene Shin and Stella Pekarsky. Stewart Whitson, a former FBI agent, won the GOP primary with 39% of the vote. In the general election, Walkinshaw outraised Whitson by $1 million to $224 thousand. In the September 9 general election, Walkinshaw defeated Whitson by roughly 50 percentage points, a significant leftward shift from 2024.

Infobox

Nominee
James Walkinshaw
Party
Democratic
Popular vote
113,596
Percentage
75.14%

Tables

· Democratic primary › Polling
Lake Research Partners (D)
Lake Research Partners (D)
Poll source
Lake Research Partners (D)
Date(s)administered
June 5–9, 2025
Samplesize
500 (LV)
Marginof error
± 4.4%
JoshuaAisen
2%
CandiceBennett
2%
DanLee
2%
LeopoldoMartínez Nucete
1%
StellaPekarsky
8%
AmyRoma
1%
IreneShin
6%
JamesWalkinshaw
41%
Undecided
36%
Poll source
Date(s)administered
Samplesize
Marginof error
JoshuaAisen
CandiceBennett
DanLee
LeopoldoMartínez Nucete
StellaPekarsky
AmyRoma
IreneShin
JamesWalkinshaw
Undecided
Lake Research Partners (D)
June 5–9, 2025
500 (LV)
± 4.4%
2%
2%
2%
1%
8%
1%
6%
41%
36%
2025 Virginia's 11th congressional district special election Democratic primary debates and forums
Key: .mw- .mw- W Withdrawn
Key: .mw- .mw- W Withdrawn
No.
Key: .mw- .mw- W Withdrawn
Bennett
Bennett
No.
Bennett
Date
Branstetter
Host
Lee
Moderator
Martinez
Link
Papanu
Democratic
Pekarsky
Democratic
Punnoose
Democratic
Roma
Democratic
Shin
Democratic
Walkinshaw
1
1
No.
1
Date
June 24, 2025
Host
WinDem
Moderator
Suhas Subramanyam
Democratic
P
Democratic
A
Democratic
P
Democratic
P
Democratic
P
Democratic
P
Democratic
P
Democratic
P
Democratic
P
Democratic
P
No.
Date
Host
Moderator
Link
Democratic
Democratic
Democratic
Democratic
Democratic
Democratic
Democratic
Democratic
Democratic
Democratic
Key: .mw- W Withdrawn
Bennett
Branstetter
Lee
Martinez
Papanu
Pekarsky
Punnoose
Roma
Shin
Walkinshaw
1
June 24, 2025
WinDem
Suhas Subramanyam
P
A
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Democratic firehouse primary results[42] · Democratic primary › Results
Total votes
Total votes
Party
Total votes
Party
39,444
Candidate
100.00%
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
James Walkinshaw
22,537
59.67%
Democratic
Irene Shin
5,613
14.23%
Democratic
Stella Pekarsky
5,271
13.36%
Democratic
Amy Roma
2,807
7.12%
Democratic
Dan Lee
734
1.86%
Democratic
Leopoldo Martínez Nucete
533
1.35%
Democratic
Amy Papanu
415
1.05%
Democratic
Priya Punnoose
241
0.61%
Democratic
Candice Bennett
199
0.50%
Democratic
Ross William Branstetter IV
25
0.06%
Total votes
39,444
100.00%
2025 Virginia's 11th congressional district special election Republican primary debates and forums · Republican primary › Debates and forums
Key: P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Not invited   I  Invited  W  Withdrawn
Key: P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Not invited   I  Invited  W  Withdrawn
No.
Key: P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Not invited   I  Invited  W  Withdrawn
Headrick
Headrick
No.
Headrick
Date
Lipsman
Host
Purves
Moderator
Rand
Link
Van Meter
Republican
Whitson
Republican
Wong
1
1
No.
1
Date
June 22, 2025
Host
WMAL-FM
Moderator
Vince Coglianese
Republican
A
Republican
P
Republican
A
Republican
P
Republican
P
Republican
P
Republican
P
2
2
No.
2
Date
June 23, 2025
Host
WMAL-FM
Moderator
Larry O'Connor
Republican
A
Republican
P
Republican
P
Republican
P
Republican
P
Republican
P
Republican
P
No.
Date
Host
Moderator
Link
Republican
Republican
Republican
Republican
Republican
Republican
Republican
Key: P Participant A Absent N Not invited I Invited W Withdrawn
Headrick
Lipsman
Purves
Rand
Van Meter
Whitson
Wong
1
June 22, 2025
WMAL-FM
Vince Coglianese
A
P
A
P
P
P
P
2
June 23, 2025
WMAL-FM
Larry O'Connor
A
P
P
P
P
P
P
Republican canvass results[55] · Republican primary › Results
Total votes
Total votes
Party
Total votes
Party
2,601
Candidate
100.00%
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Stewart Whitson
1,019
39.18%
Republican
Karina Lipsman
620
23.84%
Republican
Mike Van Meter
586
22.53%
Republican
Lucas Rand
198
7.61%
Republican
Sam Wong
99
3.81%
Republican
Nathan Headrick
40
1.54%
Republican
Arthur Purves
39
1.49%
Total votes
2,601
100.00%
2025 Virginia 11th congressional district special election debates and forums · General election › Debates and forums
P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Non-invitee   I  Invitee   W  Withdrawn
P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Non-invitee   I  Invitee   W  Withdrawn
No.
P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Non-invitee   I  Invitee   W  Withdrawn
James Walkinshaw
James Walkinshaw
No.
James Walkinshaw
Date
Stewart Whitson
1
1
No.
1
Date
July 28, 2025
Host
Reston Citizens Association
Moderator
Lynne Mulston
Participants
P
Participants
P
2
2
No.
2
Date
August 18, 2025
Host
League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area
Moderator
Catherine White
Participants
P
Participants
P
No.
Date
Host
Moderator
Link
Participants
P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn
James Walkinshaw
Stewart Whitson
1
July 28, 2025
Reston Citizens Association
Lynne Mulston
P
P
2
August 18, 2025
League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area
Catherine White
P
P
· General election › Predictions
Solid D
Solid D
Source
The Cook Political Report
Ranking
Solid D
As of
August 23, 2025
Solid D
Solid D
Source
Inside Elections
Ranking
Solid D
As of
August 28, 2025
Safe D
Safe D
Source
Sabato's Crystal Ball
Ranking
Safe D
As of
August 29, 2025
Source
Ranking
As of
The Cook Political Report
Solid D
August 23, 2025
Inside Elections
Solid D
August 28, 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball
Safe D
August 29, 2025
2025 Virginia's 11th congressional district special election[70] · General election › Results
Total votes
Total votes
Party
Total votes
Party
151,180
Candidate
100.00
Votes
N/A
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
mw- ±%
Democratic
James Walkinshaw
113,596
75.14
+8.46%
Republican
Stewart Whitson
37,297
24.67
−8.19%
Write-in
287
0.19
-0.26%
Total votes
151,180
100.00
N/A
Democratic hold
· General election › Results › By county and independent city
#
#
Locality
#
James WalkinshawDemocratic
%
James WalkinshawDemocratic
#
Stewart WhitsonRepublican
%
Stewart WhitsonRepublican
#
Write-inVarious
%
Write-inVarious
#
Margin
%
Fairfax City
Fairfax City
Locality
Fairfax City
James WalkinshawDemocratic
4,001
James WalkinshawDemocratic
74.52%
Stewart WhitsonRepublican
1,362
Stewart WhitsonRepublican
25.37%
Write-inVarious
6
Write-inVarious
0.11%
Margin
2,639
Margin
49.15%
Total votes cast
5,369
Fairfax County (part)
Fairfax County (part)
Locality
Fairfax County (part)
James WalkinshawDemocratic
109,595
James WalkinshawDemocratic
75.16%
Stewart WhitsonRepublican
35,935
Stewart WhitsonRepublican
24.64%
Write-inVarious
281
Write-inVarious
0.19%
Margin
73,660
Margin
50.52%
Total votes cast
145,811
Totals
Totals
Locality
Totals
James WalkinshawDemocratic
113,596
James WalkinshawDemocratic
75.14%
Stewart WhitsonRepublican
37,297
Stewart WhitsonRepublican
24.67%
Write-inVarious
287
Write-inVarious
0.19%
Margin
76,299
Margin
50.47%
Total votes cast
151,180
Locality
James WalkinshawDemocratic
Stewart WhitsonRepublican
Write-inVarious
Margin
Total votes cast
#
%
#
%
#
%
#
%
Fairfax City
4,001
74.52%
1,362
25.37%
6
0.11%
2,639
49.15%
5,369
Fairfax County (part)
109,595
75.16%
35,935
24.64%
281
0.19%
73,660
50.52%
145,811
Totals
113,596
75.14%
37,297
24.67%
287
0.19%
76,299
50.47%
151,180

References

  1. Key:A – all adultsRV – registered votersLV – likely votersV – unclear
  2. Poll sponsored by Walkinshaw's campaign
  3. FFXnow
    https://www.ffxnow.com/2025/05/21/breaking-rep-gerry-connolly-longtime-fairfax-politician-dies/
  4. CBS News
    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gerry-connolly-dead-age-75-virginia-democrat/
  5. DC News Now
    https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/local-news/virginia/virginia-us-rep-gerry-connolly-announces-cancer-diagnosis-after-reelection/
  6. "Youngkin sets Sept. 9 special election to fill Connolly's seat in Congress"
    https://virginiamercury.com/2025/06/03/youngkin-sets-sept-9-special-election-to-fill-connollys-seat-in-congress/
  7. "Virginia Rep. Gerald Connolly dies after cancer returns"
    https://rollcall.com/2025/05/21/gerry-connolly-virginia-democrat-cancer/
  8. "Walkinshaw's frontrunner status sparks debate over fairness in Virginia's 11th Congressional District Primary"
    https://www.virginiascope.com/walkinshaws-frontrunner-status-sparks-debate-over-fairness-in-virginias-11th-congressional-district-primary/
  9. "Fairfax voters head to the polls this week for a high-stakes congressional primary"
    https://wamu.org/story/25/06/23/fairfax-voters-head-to-the-polls-for-a-high-stakes-congressional-primary/
  10. "Walkinshaw's frontrunner status sparks debate over fairness in Virginia's 11th Congressional District Primary"
    https://www.virginiascope.com/walkinshaws-frontrunner-status-sparks-debate-over-fairness-in-virginias-11th-congressional-district-primary/
  11. "Fairfax voters head to the polls this week for a high-stakes congressional primary"
    https://wamu.org/story/25/06/23/fairfax-voters-head-to-the-polls-for-a-high-stakes-congressional-primary/
  12. "Dead congressman promotes candidate for his seat on social media"
    https://www.axios.com/2025/06/24/gerry-connolly-james-walkinshaw-dead-social-media
  13. Annandale Today
    https://annandaletoday.com/supervisor-walkinshaw-is-running-for-congress/
  14. FFXnow
    https://www.ffxnow.com/2025/05/19/fairfax-planning-commissioner-announces-congressional-run/
  15. Virginia Scope
    https://www.virginiascope.com/walkinshaws-frontrunner-status-sparks-debate-over-fairness-in-virginias-11th-congressional-district-primary/
  16. FFXnow
    https://www.ffxnow.com/2025/06/03/jus
  17. FFXnow
    https://www.ffxnow.com/2025/05/29/former-venezuelan-congressman-joins-race-to-succeed-rep-gerry-connolly/
  18. Patch
    https://patch.com/virginia/mclean/national-security-expert-ex-cia-operations-officer-enters-11th-district-race
  19. FFXnow
    https://www.ffxnow.com/2025/05/07/new-state-sen-stella-pekarsky-joins-race-to-replace-rep-gerry-connolly/
  20. The Virginia Public Access Project
    https://www.vpap.org/offices/us-representative-11/election/12537/
  21. FFXnow
    https://www.ffxnow.com/2025/05/30/vienna-energy-expert-launches-bid-for-11th-congressional-district-seat/
  22. Virginia Political Newsletter
    https://virginiapoliticalnewsletter.substack.com/p/boysko-is-endorsing-walkinshaw
  23. X (formerly Twitter)
    https://x.com/SteveDescano/status/1935456746421764420
  24. Jewish Insider
    https://jewishinsider.com/2025/05/eileen-filler-corn-james-walkinshaw-northern-virginia-house-race/
  25. "Morning Digest: Well-known Nebraska Democrat joins race to take on Don Bacon"
    https://www.the-downballot.com/p/morning-digest-well-known-nebraska
  26. Richmond Times-Dispatch
    https://richmond.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/elections/article_9812591a-8393-4e0d-9bcf-1ecd68f1c5a6.html
  27. Patch
    https://patch.com/virginia/reston/fairfax-leaders-endorse-democrat-race-succeed-u-s-rep-connolly
  28. X (formerly Twitter)
    https://x.com/JaredSerre/status/1935452197229113783
  29. "Alexandria Mayor Gaskins endorses Fairfax County Planning Commissioner Candice Bennett for Virginia's open 11th Congressional District seat"
    https://www.alxnow.com/2025/06/26/alexandria-mayor-gaskins-endorses-fairfax-county-planning-commissioner-candice-bennett-for-virginias-open-11th-congressional-district-seat/
  30. FFXnow
    https://www.ffxnow.com/2025/05/09/state-democrats-start-to-pick-sides-early-in-race-to-choose-rep-connollys-successor/
  31. Politico
    https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2025/06/03/trump-turns-the-screws-00381850
  32. "RGA to invest in Earle-Sears"
    https://virginiapoliticalnewsletter.substack.com/p/rga-to-invest-in-earle-sears
  33. "Video: Roland Martin's Virginia Exclusives; LG Nominee Hashmi Backs Del. Irene Shin for Congress; Chesley: Don't Underestimate LG Earle-Sears"
    https://blackvirginianews.substack.com/p/video-roland-martins-virginia-exclusives
  34. "Instagram"
    https://www.instagram.com/p/DLLRrQQB0RD/?hl=en&img_index=1
  35. Politico
    https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/10/david-hogg-dnc-endorsement-virginia-00396644
  36. Patch
    https://patch.com/virginia/reston/choosing-connollys-successor-congress-what-know
  37. InsideNova
    https://www.insidenova.com/headlines/rep-connolly-backs-former-chief-of-staff-to-succeed-him-in-congress/article_0e904b2c-03d9-4430-b593-97b3469e7fcb.html
  38. NBC News
    https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/virginia-democrats-target-trump-race-replace-gerry-connolly-congress-rcna215147
  39. Blue Virginia
    https://bluevirginia.us/2025/06/after-completely-botching-their-va11-democratic-candidates-questionnaire-weird-yes-no-questions-lack-of-nuance-and-context-etc-the-wapo-deletes-the-answers#comment-6729484116
  40. Blue Virginia
    https://bluevirginia.us/2025/06/breaking-gov-glenn-youngkin-sets-date-9-9-25-for-special-election-in-va11#comment-6716270995
  41. Punchbowl News
    https://punchbowl.news/publicmemo-va11-firev-0611251/
  42. Fairfax Democrats
    https://web.archive.org/web/20250620221741/https://www.fairfaxdemocrats.org/event/congressional-district-11-candidate-forum/
  43. YouTube
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaxD_b6fH1k
  44. Google Docs
    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vt4BykKh7P8MJA61tSJekRWVlMu7d3jz0EmL5chUFEM/edit?pli=1&gid=0#gid=0
  45. FFXnow
    https://www.ffxnow.com/2025/06/09/republicans-will-decide-11th-congressional-district-nominee-at-lone-canvass-event/
  46. Virginia's 11th Congressional District Republicans
    https://11cdgop.org/stewart-whitson-republican-candidate-for-virginias-11th-congressional-district/
  47. Washington Examiner
    https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/congressional/3431117/nathan-headrick-to-spend-2-million-dollars-virginia-11th-congressional-district-general-election-gerry-connolly/
  48. Fox News
    https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-supporting-communism-survivor-jumps-race-late-democrats-seat
  49. Virginia's 11th Congressional District Republicans
    https://11cdgop.org/arthur-purves-republican-candidate-for-virginias-11th-congressional-district/
  50. The Virginia Independent
    https://virginiaindependentnews.com/elections/gov-youngkin-calls-virginia-11th-district-special-election-for-sept-9/
  51. FFXnow
    https://www.ffxnow.com/2025/04/30/scoop-former-republican-nominee-will-run-again-to-replace-rep-gerry-connolly/
  52. Virginia's 11th Congressional District Republicans
    https://11cdgop.org/sam-wong-republican-candidate-for-virginias-11th-congressional-district/
  53. Fairfax GOP
    https://web.archive.org/web/20250620230215/https://fairfaxgop.nucleuspages.com/events/2025-11th-congressional-district-candidate-forum-1
  54. YouTube
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paQXfu2uXbQ
  55. Fairfax GOP
    https://web.archive.org/web/20250620230724/https://fairfaxgop.nucleuspages.com/events/2025-11th-congressional-district-candidate-forum-2
  56. YouTube
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0BYGezL34A
  57. Virginia's 11th Congressional District Republicans
    https://web.archive.org/web/20250629120819/https://11cdgop.org/
  58. Patch
    https://patch.com/virginia/reston/independent-candidate-not-ballot-11th-district-race
  59. WJLA-TV
    https://wjla.com/news/elections/fairfax-voters-congressional-district-11-july-forum-special-election-candidates-rally-july-28-where-can-i-find-the-forum-for-fairfax-congress-seat-special-election-gerry-connolly-cancer-reston
  60. YouTube
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUcbdfVHfGw
  61. Patch Media
    https://patch.com/virginia/fairfaxcity/doge-job-cuts-public-safety-top-priorities-walkinshaw-whitson
  62. YouTube
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0_brxmREaw
  63. Annandale Today
    https://annandaletoday.com/democratic-leaders-urge-voters-to-support-walkinshaw-in-special-election-sept-9/
  64. Annandale Today
    https://annandaletoday.com/democratic-leaders-urge-voters-to-support-walkinshaw-in-special-election-sept-9/
  65. Annandale Today
    https://annandaletoday.com/democratic-leaders-urge-voters-to-support-walkinshaw-in-special-election-sept-9/
  66. Annandale Today
    https://annandaletoday.com/democratic-leaders-urge-voters-to-support-walkinshaw-in-special-election-sept-9/
  67. Virginia's 11th Congressional District Republicans
    https://web.archive.org/web/20250729151005/https://11cdgop.org/governor-glenn-youngkin-endorses-stewart-whitson-in-key-special-election/
  68. "Pat Herrity, the lone Republican on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has endorsed Stewart Whitson in #VA11. As expected, despite Whitson's opponent being one of Herrity's colleagues on the board"
    https://x.com/JaredSerre/status/1953452822252421228
  69. The Cook Political Report
    https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/house-race-ratings
  70. Inside Elections
    https://insideelections.com/ratings/house
  71. Sabato's Crystal Ball
    https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/2026-house/
  72. Virginia Department of Elections
    https://enr.elections.virginia.gov/results/public/virginia/elections/2025-September-9-Special
  73. Virginia Department of Elections
    https://enr.elections.virginia.gov/results/public/virginia/elections/2025-September-9-Special/ballot-items/01000000-eb98-c252-3ccf-08ddceb29a7a
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