Youngkin Calls Special Election to Replace Late Rep. Connolly Sept. 9

3 Jun at 12:00 pm

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Youngkin Calls Special Election to Replace Late Rep. Connolly Sept. 9/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has scheduled a Sept. 9 special election to fill Rep. Gerry Connolly’s vacant seat. The deep-blue 11th District is expected to remain in Democratic hands, though the field is growing competitive. This marks the third upcoming special election this fall following the deaths of sitting Democratic lawmakers.

FILE – Ranking member Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-Va., speaks during a committee on House Administration Oversight Subcommittee and House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation Subcommittee joint hearing, April 19, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Connolly, a Democratic congressman and fixture of Virginia politics, has died at age 75. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

Virginia Special Election: Quick Looks

Election Set: Gov. Youngkin announces Sept. 9 date for special election in Virginia’s 11th District.
Solid Blue Seat: District remains safely Democratic, with a strong lean toward electing another Democrat.
Connolly’s Legacy: The late congressman had endorsed former aide James Walkinshaw before his passing.
Crowded Field: At least five Democrats and two Republicans are already running for the open seat.
National Trend: Virginia joins Texas and Arizona in holding special elections to fill Democratic vacancies.
Procedural Contrast: Unlike delays in Texas and Arizona, Virginia moved swiftly to schedule the vote.

Deep Look

Youngkin Calls Special Election to Replace Rep. Gerry Connolly on Sept. 9

RICHMOND, VA — Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin has announced a special election for September 9, 2025, to fill the vacancy left by Rep. Gerry Connolly, the longtime Democratic lawmaker who passed away on May 21 after battling esophageal cancer.

The special election in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, which includes parts of Northern Virginia near Washington, D.C., is widely expected to result in another Democratic victory. The district has consistently elected Democratic representatives and is considered deep blue by political analysts.

Connolly, who announced in April that he would not seek reelection in 2026, endorsed his former aide James Walkinshaw as his preferred successor shortly before his death. Walkinshaw, who previously served on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, quickly gained traction but now faces a competitive primary.

Democratic Primary Gets Crowded

Walkinshaw’s candidacy was bolstered by Connolly’s endorsement, but at least five other Democrats have also launched campaigns for the seat, sensing an opportunity to represent the safely Democratic district. On the Republican side, two candidates have entered the race, though their chances are slim in a district that gave Joe Biden more than 70% of the vote in 2020.

This race offers Democrats an opportunity to showcase younger or emerging talent as they seek to maintain their hold on the seat and solidify party leadership in the D.C. suburbs.

Part of a Broader Trend of Fall Special Elections

Virginia is now one of three states preparing for special congressional elections this fall. In Texas, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott scheduled a Nov. 4 special election to replace the late Rep. Sylvester Turner, who passed away in April. That decision sparked criticism and potential legal action from state Democrats, who accused Abbott of deliberately delaying the process for political advantage.

Meanwhile, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, has set a Sept. 23 special election to fill the seat of Rep. Raúl Grijalva, who died in March. Arizona law mandates a longer timeline for special elections, but Democrats there have also faced questions over the slow pace.

In contrast, Virginia’s prompt scheduling of its special election — less than a month after Connolly’s passing — is being viewed as a model of administrative efficiency.

A Look Back at Connolly’s Legacy

Gerry Connolly represented the 11th District since 2009 and was known for his pragmatic progressivism, deep knowledge of federal workforce issues, and a strong connection to his constituents. Even as he fought esophageal cancer, Connolly remained engaged in congressional affairs, announcing his retirement plans just weeks before his death.

His decision to endorse James Walkinshaw underscored his intent to pass the baton to someone he believed could continue advocating for Northern Virginia’s federal employees, infrastructure needs, and diverse communities.

Looking Ahead

While the outcome in November is largely expected to favor Democrats, the September primary could be a critical test of Democratic grassroots energy in the post-Connolly era. The GOP, though unlikely to flip the seat, may use the campaign to test messaging strategies in suburban districts ahead of the 2026 midterms.

For now, the race is on — and Northern Virginia voters will once again take center stage in a consequential political moment.