Democrat wins Virginia election, shrinks GOP hold on House

An already narrow Republican majority in the House of Representatives will soon shrink with the election of James Walkinshaw, D-Va., on Tuesday’s special election. Walkinshaw’s addition brings the GOP hold in the chamber down to just two seats. He won with roughly three votes for every one received by Republican opponent Stewart Whitson.

Walkinshaw has called to be sworn into office as soon as possible. He takes the seat of former Congressman Gerry Connolly, D-Va, who died in office earlier this year. Once Walkinshaw takes the oath of office, Democrats will hold 213 seats to Republicans’ 219.

“I am prepared to be sworn to the House of Representatives at any time tomorrow, September 10,” Walkinshaw wrote in a letter to U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson following his election. “As you are aware there have been two previous special elections during the 119th Congress. Both [members] took the oath of office the day after their special elections were held. I am confident that the same consideration will be extended to the people of Virginia’s 11th District.”

Who is the congressional newcomer? Walkinshaw, 42, graduated from New York University in 2005 before becoming involved in politics in Northern Virginia. In 2019, he was elected to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors where he served in several capacities. Most recently, he served on the Board of Supervisors’ Legislative Committee. He will join the New Democrats coalition—a group of over 100 Democratic lawmakers who focus on moderate policy positions.

What were the margins before? Republicans came into the year with just a one-seat majority at the outset of the Trump administration. Three deaths among Democrats have temporarily expanded the Republican hold in the chamber to a three-seat majority. Connolly, Raul Grijalva of Arizona, and Sylvester Turner of Texas all died in office after the 119th Congress took the oath of office Jan. 3. The race to fill Grijalva’s seat takes place later this month. Texas Governor Greg Abbott set the special election to fill Turner’s vacancy in November.

What does this mean for Congress? Speaker Johnson has battled to keep the GOP conference on the same page. Notably, President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act cleared the House by just one vote in July. With plans developing to consider a second domestic policy package, maintaining unity will be key to advancing key Republican policy positions.

Dig deeper: Democrats will surely welcome a new member in their ranks. But with an opportunity to retake the House outright in the 2026 midterms, California’s political leadership looks to gain a winning hand.Read my reporting on the reciprocal gerrymandering efforts in the Golden State.