Whitson vs. Walkinshaw to fill seat of late Rep. Gerry Connolly

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) — The stage is set for who will face each other in the fall to fill the remaining term of Representative Gerry Connolly.

James Walkinshaw won Saturday’s Democratic primary, while Stewart Whitson captured the Republican nomination.

Walkinshaw spent 11 years as Connolly’s chief-of-staff and received his endorsement after Connolly announced in April he would not seek another term after his esophageal cancer returned last November. Connolly passed away in May at the age of 75.

Walkinshaw also serves on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, representing the Braddock District.

“I’ve seen he said that he [Whitson] wants to go to Washington to be Donald Trump’s ally. That he wants to make those in the DOGE cuts permanent. And I couldn’t disagree more,” Walkinshaw said. “Frankly, I think that’s insulting to Fairfax families who have been harmed by Donald Trump and harmed by those. And I want to go to Washington to put the brakes on Trump’s reckless agenda

Whitson has never run for political office. He’s an Army veteran and a retired FBI agent. Whitson says he’s spent the last four years pushing the conservative agenda before Congress.

“The people in my district are ready for change; they’re ready for lower gas prices. They’re lower, ready for affordable groceries. They’re ready for strong leadership that’ll fix the economy,” Whitson said. “And so looking at this race, looking at both sides, the candidates on both sides, I didn’t see a person that could offer. You know that kind of background.”

Voters will decide who fills the remainder of Rep. Connolly’s term on September 9.