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A2 u.s. news
Monday 30 June 2025

James Walkinshaw wins Democratic contest to likely replace US

Rep. Connolly in northern Virginia

The Associated Press serves on the Fairfax Coun- and includes Fairfax, Res-
FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) — Dem- ty Board of Supervisors — ton and Vienna.
ocrats and Republicans which oversees the local Political observers have
chose candidates in north- budget and policies. Re- said that the district’s Dem-
ern Virginia on Saturday publicans picked Stewart ocratic primary likely will
who will vie to replace the Whitson, an Army veteran determine Connolly’s suc-
late U.S. Rep. Gerry Connol- and former FBI agent. cessor in what has become
ly, a Democrat who served The candidates will com- a reliably Democratic dis-
the congressional district in pete in a special election trict.
the Washington suburbs for on Sept. 9 to represent Vir- Connolly, who most recent-
16 years. ginia’s 11th Congressional ly held a prominent position
Democrats chose James District, which is home to as the ranking member of
Walkinshaw, who currently more than 700,000 people the House Oversight Com-

Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., listens at an event, Oct. 22, 2020, in
Fairfax, Va.
(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)
mittee, died last month to have earned the Demo-
after battling esophageal cratic nomination for the
cancer. The 75-year-old’s district I've spent my career
death left House Republi- serving," Walkinshaw said in
cans with a 220-212 major- a written statement post-
ity in Congress. ed to X on Saturday. "This
The so-called “firehouse victory was powered by
primaries” for the special neighbors, volunteers and
election were run by the supporters who believe in
political parties, not local protecting our democracy,
governments or the Virgin- defending our freedoms,
ia Department of Elections, and delivering for working
according to Fairfax Coun- families.”
ty’s website. The Republican nominee,
Walkinshaw, who previ- meanwhile, said in a state-
ously served as Connolly’s ment that it was “time to
chief of staff for more than fight” to flip the seat.
a decade, was viewed as “With President Trump
the frontrunner leading up back in office he’s tak-
to the Democratic primary. ing bold and aggressive
He had received Connol- action to get the country
ly’s endorsement before back on track,” Whitson
the congressman passed said. “But he needs strong
away. Walkinshaw bested allies in Congress who will
9 other candidates for the help him fix the economy,
Democratic nomination. protect our families, and
“I'm honored and humbled restore common sense.”q