Democrat · Virginia's 11th District · 2026
James Walkinshaw
Walkinshaw grew up in Northern Virginia and now lives in Fairfax with his wife, Yvette, and their son, Mateo.
Biography
James Walkinshaw grew up in Northern Virginia and now lives in Fairfax with his wife, Yvette, and their son.1 He has volunteered as a mentor through the county's Befriend A Child program and chaired its Council to End Domestic Violence.1 He graduated from New York University in 2005 with a degree in politics.2
Before holding office himself, Walkinshaw spent more than a decade as Congressman Gerry Connolly's chief of staff, working on federal policy, constituent services and regional priorities.2 He represented Braddock on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors from 2020 to September 2025.2
His county responsibilities included leading legislative and environmental committees, supporting solar installations on county buildings and chairing regional transportation and railway boards.2 He now serves on House Oversight and Homeland Security and helped establish the Federal Workforce Caucus.2
Walkinshaw proposes requiring congressional approval before presidents downsize federal agencies and protecting career civil servants from replacement by political appointees.3 He also wants data centers to cover their own energy costs and meet environmental and community safeguards.3 Republican Arthur Purves and Green candidate Dianne Blais are challenging him in November, as Walkinshaw seeks a full term following his 2025 special election victory.3