Virginia Special Election: GOP’s ‘Once-in-a-Generation’ Chance

Virginia Special Election Seen as ‘Once-in-a-Generation’ Chance for GOP in Fairfax County

Republican Stewart Whitson faces steep odds in a deep-blue district as voters prepare to choose a successor to the late Rep. Gerry Connolly

Published September 7, 2025

Northern Virginia voters head to the polls Tuesday in a rare September election to fill the 11th District congressional seat left vacant after Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) died in May following a battle with cancer. The race is seen as a critical test for both parties in a district Democrats have controlled for nearly two decades.

Republican candidate Stewart Whitson, an Army combat veteran, former FBI special agent, and conservative policy advocate, told Breitbart News the race represents a “once in a generation opportunity” for the GOP. “For 16 long years, the Democrats have had a stranglehold on this district,” he said. “Taking back this seat isn’t just putting a Republican vote in Congress; it’s actually taking away a Democrat vote.”

🚺 STANDING WITH WOMEN: Congressional Candidate for Virginia’s 11th district @stew_whitson signs the Stand With Women Commitment, promising to support legislation that preserves women’s equal opportunities & single-sex spaces.

Congressional candidate Stewart Whitson said:
“As a… pic.twitter.com/7skk1D4bju
— Independent Women's Voice (@IWV) July 14, 2025

But Whitson faces an uphill climb in a district where Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris won 65% of the vote in 2024. His opponent, James Walkinshaw, served more than a decade as Connolly’s chief of staff and now sits on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Walkinshaw has described himself as a “pragmatic progressive,” closely aligning his politics with his late mentor. (RELATED: Spanberger Words, Votes, Come Back to Haunt Her on Trans Issues)

Denying students access to bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity is discrimination, plain and simple. Very proud of @Moon4Schools for standing with trans kids here in #Braddock and across the country. https://t.co/7f9eqC8llz
— James Walkinshaw (@JamesWalkinshaw) April 30, 2019

Whitson, who won a crowded GOP primary, has made education, crime, and immigration central to his campaign. He criticized Fairfax schools for leading “wokeness” in classrooms, calling for “empowering parents and getting the crazy out of our schools.” He also praised former President Donald Trump’s efforts to combat crime in Washington, D.C., and blamed Democrats for failing to keep cities safe.

“Everything President Trump is doing to restore safety to our communities is working,” Whitson said, adding that Trump has “shined a spotlight” on Democrats’ shortcomings. He also attacked Walkinshaw for supporting sanctuary city policies in Fairfax County.

Whitson argued that this race could serve as a bellwether ahead of the 2026 midterms. “Not only do we want to win seats and flip them red, we want to make sure Republicans we are putting in are conservatives who believe in America First philosophy and want to back the president,” he said.