Fairfax, Virginie (AP) – Democrats and Republicans chose candidates on Northern Virginia on Saturday who will compete for the late American representative Gerry Connolly, a democrat who served the Congress district in the suburbs of Washington for 16 years.
The Democrats have chosen James Walkinshaw, who is currently sitting on the Comté de Fairfax supervisors – which oversees the budget and local policies. The Republicans chose Stewart Whitson, an army veteran and former FBI agent.
The candidates will participate in a special election on September 9 to represent the 11th district of the Virginia Congress, which houses more than 700,000 people and includes Fairfax, Reston and Vienne.
Political observers have said that the District Democratic primary will probably determine Connolly’s successor in what has become a reliable democratic district.
Connolly, who recently held a leading position as a classification member of the Chamber’s supervisory committee, died last month after fighting esophagus cancer. The 75-year-old death left the Republicans of the Chamber with a majority of 220-212 in the Congress.
The so-called “barracks of barracks” for the special elections were organized by political parties, not local governments or the Virginia elections department, according to the Fairfax County website.
Walkinshaw, who previously was chief of staff of Connolly for more than a decade, was considered the favorite who led to the Democratic primary. He had received the approval of Connolly before the death of the Congress member. Walkinshaw beat 9 other candidates for democratic appointment.
“I am honored and humiliated to have won the democratic appointment for the district that I spent my career to serve,” Walkinshaw said in a written declaration published on X on Saturday. “This victory was fed by neighbors, volunteers and supporters who believe in the protection of our democracy, defending our freedoms and delivering working families.”
The Republican candidate, on the other hand, said in a statement that he was “time to fight” to return the siege.
“With President Trump in power, he takes daring and aggressive measures to put the country on the right track,” said Whitson. “But he needs strong allies at Congress who will help him repair the economy, protect our families and restore common sense.”
