James Walkinshaw

James Robert Walkinshaw is a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Virginia's 11th Congressional District. He was first elected to the House in a special election on September 9, 2025, succeeding the late Congressman Gerry Connolly. A native of Northern Virginia, Walkinshaw grew up in Prince William County and graduated from New York University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts in Politics. Before his election to Congress, he served as the Chief of Staff to Congressman Connolly from 2009 to 2019, where he played a key role in regional policy and federal workforce protections. Prior to his congressional service, Walkinshaw was a member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, representing the Braddock District from 2020 to 2025. During his time on the Board, he chaired the Legislative and Environmental Committees and served as the Chair of the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) Operations Board. He led local initiatives to implement collective bargaining, expand affordable housing, and enhance gun safety measures. In the 119th Congress, Walkinshaw serves on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the Committee on Homeland Security, and he is the founder and co-chair of the Congressional Federal Workforce Caucus.

Walkinshaw's policy agenda focuses heavily on the protection of the federal workforce, healthcare affordability, and environmental preservation. He is a strong advocate for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicaid expansion, maintaining that healthcare is a human right. As the co-chair of the Congressional Federal Workforce Caucus, he has introduced legislation to protect the merit-based civil service from political interference and opposes reclassification efforts like 'Schedule F.' On environmental issues, he supports expanding renewable energy and is a member of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition. Walkinshaw also champions gun safety reforms, including universal background checks and red flag laws, and is a vocal proponent of protecting reproductive freedom and Social Security.