Walkinshaw, James R.

James Walkinshaw is a Democrat representing Virginia's 11th Congressional District, which includes most of Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax, and the towns of Vienna and Herndon. He won a special election in September 2025 to fill the seat left vacant by the death of longtime Representative Gerry Connolly, whose chief of staff he had been for over a decade. Before his election to Congress, Walkinshaw served on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors from 2020 to 2025, representing the Braddock District, where he chaired the Legislative and Environmental Committees.

Walkinshaw serves on several key House committees, including the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the Military and Foreign Affairs Subcommittee, and the Committee on Homeland Security, where he focuses on cybersecurity and border security issues. He has emerged as a leading voice for federal workers, founding and serving as co-chair of the Congressional Federal Workforce Caucus. On the Oversight Committee, he has passed bipartisan amendments to strengthen accountability and protect federal workers, and he has issued over 100 formal oversight demands and launched 15 active investigations.

His legislative priorities center on protecting federal workers and contractors, supporting affordable healthcare, and addressing climate change. He has introduced numerous bills, including the Veteran Technology Employment Success Act and the True Shutdown Fairness Act. Walkinshaw has also worked on bipartisan efforts to improve cyber defenses and has focused on oversight of immigration enforcement agencies, demanding transparency and investigating misconduct to protect sensitive locations and ensure humanitarian standards.