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James Walkinshaw

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James Walkinshaw

James Robert Walkinshaw (born October 22, 1982) is an American politician and former congressional aide serving as the U.S. representative for Virginia's 11th congressional district since September 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as a member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors from the Braddock District from 2020 to 2025. A native of Northern Virginia, Walkinshaw began a political career in the late 2000s. From 2009 to 2019, he served as the chief of staff to U.S. Representative Gerry Connolly. In 2019, he was elected to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and re-elected in 2023. When Connolly announced his retirement from Congress in 2025, he endorsed Walkinshaw to succeed him. Connolly died from cancer shortly afterwards, and Walkinshaw became the party's nominee for the special election to finish his term. Walkinshaw won the special election on September 9, 2025, defeating Republican Stewart Whitson.

Infobox

Preceded by
John Cook
Succeeded by
Rachna Sizemore Heizer
Born
James Robert Walkinshaw (1982-10-22) October 22, 1982 (age 43)Arlington, Virginia, U.S.
Political party
Democratic
Spouse
Yvette Peña
Children
1
Education
New York University (BA)
Website
House websiteCampaign website
Party
Democratic

Tables

2025 Virginia 11th congressional district special Democratic primary[38] · Electoral history
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 11th congressional district special General election[39] · Electoral history
Total votes
Total votes
Party
Total votes
Party
151,180
Candidate
100.00
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
James Walkinshaw
113,596
75.14
Republican
Stewart Whitson
37,297
24.67
Write-in
287
0.19
Total votes
151,180
100.00
· References
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
U.S. House of Representatives
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byJimmy Patronis
Preceded byJimmy Patronis
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded byJimmy Patronis
U.S. House of Representatives
United States representatives by seniority 431st
U.S. House of Representatives
Succeeded byAdelita Grijalva
House of Representatives
Preceded byGerry Connolly
Member of the U.S. House of Representativesfrom Virginia's 11th congressional district 2025–present
Incumbent
order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byJimmy Patronis
United States representatives by seniority 431st
Succeeded byAdelita Grijalva

References

  1. "Incoming Rep. James Walkinshaw - Biography | LegiStorm"
    https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/74912/James_Robert_Walkinshaw.html
  2. www.fairfaxcounty.gov
    https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/braddock/about-supervisor-walkinshaw
  3. The Washington Post
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/06/28/virginia-11th-district-primary-results-election-connolly/
  4. Fairfax County Times
    https://www.fairfaxtimes.com/articles/connolly-chief-of-staff-sets-sights-on-braddock-district-supervisor/article_8d3c0b9e-0560-11e9-ab5e-570a8d3a5357.html
  5. gerryconnolly.com
    https://gerryconnolly.com/
  6. The Washington Post
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/06/30/james-walkinshaw-virginia-congress-election-democrat-connolly/
  7. POLITICO
    https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/06/gerry-connolly-former-chief-of-staff-seat-00332592
  8. www.legistorm.com
    https://www.legistorm.com/person/James_R_Walkinshaw/74912.html
  9. James Walkinshaw Democrat for Congress
    https://jameswalkinshaw.org/about/
  10. Virginia Department of Elections
    https://historical.elections.virginia.gov/elections/view/161433
  11. The Washington Post
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/05/06/connolly-endorse-walkinshaw-congress-virginia-pekarsky/
  12. "Catherine "Smitty" Smith, the wife of the late Rep. Gerry Connolly, speaks about the relationship that Gerry had with #VA11 candidate James Walkinshaw. "James was Gerry's son.""
    https://x.com/JaredSerre/status/1934030915036151989
  13. Burke, VA Patch
    https://patch.com/virginia/burke/braddock-supervisor-announces-bid-connollys-seat-congress
  14. www.governor.virginia.gov
    https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/news-releases/2025/june/name-1047061-en.html
  15. Virginia Scope
    https://www.virginiascope.com/walkinshaws-frontrunner-status-sparks-debate-over-fairness-in-virginias-11th-congressional-district-primary/
  16. The Washington Post
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/06/23/virginia-primary-democrats-congress-connolly-fairfax/
  17. Virginia Scope
    https://www.virginiascope.com/walkinshaws-frontrunner-status-sparks-debate-over-fairness-in-virginias-11th-congressional-district-primary/
  18. Patch
    https://patch.com/virginia/fairfaxcity/democrats-announce-winner-11th-district-firehouse-primary
  19. Facebook
    https://www.facebook.com/congressmanconnolly/posts/1132220958730961?ref=embed_post
  20. Axios
    https://www.axios.com/2025/06/24/gerry-connolly-james-walkinshaw-dead-social-media
  21. Fox News
    https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dead-congressmans-social-media-accounts-resurrected-boost-former-chief-staffs-congressional-bid
  22. POLITICO
    https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/28/dead-lawmakers-social-media-00429884
  23. Axios
    https://www.axios.com/2025/06/30/lawmakers-posthumous-posts-social-media-hack
  24. Semafor
    https://www.semafor.com/article/06/27/2025/rep-gerry-connollys-posthumous-endorsement-adds-a-new-twist-to-democratic-age-struggles
  25. The Hill
    https://thehill.com/homenews/5367741-gerry-connolly-posts-james-walkinshaw/
  26. Politico.com
    https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/28/dead-lawmakers-social-media-00429884
  27. Ballotpedia
    https://ballotpedia.org/Virginia%27s_11th_Congressional_District_special_election,_2025_(June_28_Democratic_firehouse_primary)
  28. Roll Call
    https://rollcall.com/2025/06/29/virginia-special-election-james-walkinshaw/
  29. AP News
    https://apnews.com/article/va-special-election-winner-walkinshaw-connolly-2abc46884a676c7073be99ffb0e47736
  30. AP News
    https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2025/virginia/
  31. enr.elections.virginia.gov
    https://enr.elections.virginia.gov/results/public/virginia/elections/2025-September-9-Special
  32. Associated Press
    https://apnews.com/live/donald-trump-news-updates-9-10-2025#00000199-357f-dba2-a5f9-f77fc57f0000
  33. Blue Virginia
    https://bluevirginia.us/2025/09/following-in-his-mentor-gerry-connollys-footsteps-new-rep-james-walkinshaw-d-va11-appointed-to-house-committee-on-oversight-and-government-reform/
  34. New Democrat Coalition
    https://newdemocratcoalition.house.gov/members#Virginia
  35. Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus [@officialcapac];
    https://www.instagram.com/p/DRNg-Vakdbu/
  36. WTOP-FM
    https://wtop.com/virginia/2025/07/where-the-candidates-to-fill-rep-gerry-connollys-seat-stand-on-key-issues/
  37. Annandale Today
    https://annandaletoday.com/walkinshaw-launches-congressional-campaign/
  38. Google Docs
    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vt4BykKh7P8MJA61tSJekRWVlMu7d3jz0EmL5chUFEM/edit?pli=1&gid=0#gid=0
  39. AP
    https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2025/virginia/?r=83272
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