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Portrait of James R. WalkinshawPhoto: unitedstates.github.io

VA · Officeholder

James R. Walkinshaw

DU.S. Representative · VA-11

On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: U.S. House · Virginia's 11th District

Biography

James Walkinshaw is the Democratic incumbent seeking his first full term representing Virginia's 11th District, having won a 2025 special election after Rep. Gerry Connolly's death. He worked for more than a decade as Connolly's chief of staff and served on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors from 2020 to 2025. In the House he serves on the Oversight and Government Reform and Homeland Security committees and, according to his official biography, focuses on the federal workforce and government operations.[1][2]

Walkinshaw was born on October 22, 1982, in Arlington, Virginia, and grew up in Prince William County.[2] He graduated from New York University in 2005 with a B.A. in politics.[1][2][3] He then worked in Congress for more than a decade as chief of staff to Rep. Gerry Connolly, advising on federal policy, constituent services and regional priorities such as Metro funding and federal workforce protections, and he had earlier managed Connolly's 2007 and 2008 campaigns.[1][2]

Walkinshaw served on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, representing the Braddock District, from 2020 to September 2025, and chaired the board's Legislative and Environmental committees.[1][2] He represented Fairfax County on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, chaired the Regional Transportation Planning Board, and chaired the Virginia Railway Express Operations Board in 2023.[1] After Connolly's death in May 2025, he won a 10-candidate Democratic primary in June 2025 with about 60% of the vote and then the September 9, 2025 special election over Republican Stewart Whitson, and he was sworn in the next day.[2]

In the House, Walkinshaw serves on the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, including its Military and Foreign Affairs Subcommittee, and the Committee on Homeland Security.[1] He founded and co-chairs the Federal Workforce Caucus with Rep. Steny Hoyer and Sen. Chris Van Hollen, and he is also a member of the New Democrat Coalition, the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.[1] The district includes most of Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax, and the towns of Vienna and Herndon. According to his official biography, Walkinshaw lives in Fairfax with his wife, Yvette, and their son, Mateo.[1]

  1. 1.Biography | U.S. Representative James Walkinshaw · Office of Rep. James Walkinshaw Official record
  2. 2.James Walkinshaw · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
  3. 3.James Walkinshaw · Ballotpedia · 2026-10-21 Reference

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.

On the ballot

Full candidate research ›U.S. House · Virginia's 11th District ›

Also on the ballot for this seat

Arthur PurvesCandidateRU.S. House · VA-11VirginiaDianne BlaisCandidateGU.S. House · VA-11Virginia

Votes by issue

Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Democrats voted. How topics are assigned

Where they stood out

Voted against most of their party on 6 of 312 party-divided votes on file.

Most often on: Jobs & cost of living (3), Foreign affairs & defense (3), Transportation (1)

  • Main Street Act

    What it does: Main Street Capital Access Act or the Main Street Act This bill lessens and otherwise modifies banking regulations, including those regarding institution formation, supervision by federal financial regulators, and ban…

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 56–154, Republicans 213–1

    Jul 21, 2026Official record ↗

  • Amendment (Boebert) to H.R. 8800 — National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027

    A yes vote supported an H.R. 8800 amendment that strikes section 518, a pilot program using voice-based risk assessment technology to identify servicemembers for drug testing. (AI-written)

    What it does: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027 This bill sets forth policies and authorities for FY2027 for Department of Defense (DOD) programs, activities, and military construction as well as the national…

    Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 175–37, Republicans 90–123

    Jul 21, 2026Official record ↗

  • Amendment (Massie) to H.R. 8595 — Making appropriations for national security, Department of State, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027, and for other purposes.

    A yes vote supported an H.R. 8595 amendment that bars funds in the bill from being used for Israel and cuts the Foreign Military Financing account by $3.3 billion. (AI-written)

    What it does: National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027 This bill provides FY2027 appropriations for national security, the Department of State, and related programs.

    Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 103–98, Republicans 1–215

    Jul 15, 2026Official record ↗

  • Defending American Property Abroad Act

    What it does: Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2026 This bill authorizes the President to prohibit the entry of a vessel into the United States if the vessel has transited any U.S. port, harbor, or marine terminal that has…

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 41–164, Republicans 205–0

    Mar 27, 2026Official record ↗

  • Increasing Investor Opportunities Act

    What it does: Increasing Investor Opportunities Act This bill allows a closed-end fund—a portfolio of pooled assets with a limited number of shares traded on an exchange—to increase its investment in private investment funds.

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 87–123, Republicans 214–0

    Dec 11, 2025Official record ↗

How this is counted

Their votes on the most contested roll calls

The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank

See all their split votes

Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.

S. 2403 · U.S. HOUSE

Retire through Ownership Act

YesVOTED

Motion: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass

A yes vote suspended the House rules and passed S. 2403, the Retire through Ownership Act, under a fast-track procedure that requires a two-thirds majority. (AI-written)

Retire through Ownership Act This bill allows the fiduciary of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) to rely on a valuation provided by an independent valuation expert or business appraiser in determining the fair market value of the plan's securities if the securities are not traded on a national securities exchange (i.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 401–14·Substantive·Sep 16, 2026Roll call ↗
H.R. 9497 · U.S. HOUSE

Water Resources Development Act

YesVOTED

Motion: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended

A yes vote suspended the House rules and passed H.R. 9497, the Water Resources Development Act, as amended, under a fast-track procedure that requires a two-thirds majority. (AI-written)

Water Resources Development Act of 2026 This bill authorizes and modifies certain water resource infrastructure projects and programs of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and makes related requirements.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 415–9·Substantive·Sep 16, 2026Roll call ↗
H.R. 9340 · U.S. HOUSE

Ratepayer Protection Act

YesVOTED

Motion: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended

A yes vote suspended the House rules and passed H.R. 9340, the Ratepayer Protection Act, as amended, under a fast-track procedure that requires a two-thirds majority. (AI-written)

Ratepayer Protection Act The bill requires state utility regulators and nonregulated utilities to consider implementing a standard to hold certain large-load customers responsible for the costs associated with any generation, transmission, or distribution upgrade of electric service necessary to serve such customers.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 417–3·Substantive·Sep 16, 2026Roll call ↗
H.J.Res. 213 · U.S. HOUSE

Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to the “California State Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; Commercial Harbor Craft Regulations; Notice of Decision”

NoVOTED

Motion: On Passage

This joint resolution revokes the partial authorization granted to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to amend its Commercial Harbor Craft regulation.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 214–208·Substantive·Sep 16, 2026Roll call ↗
H.R. 10326 · U.S. HOUSE

PROOF Act

NoVOTED

Motion: On Passage

Preventing Rip-offs and Obtaining Oversight of Funds Act or the PROOF Act This bill requires states to provide such information as the Department of Justice (DOJ) may require for the purpose of investigating or prosecuting alleged fraud committed with regard to certain federally funded programs.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 217–207·Substantive·Sep 16, 2026Roll call ↗
H.R. 9576 · U.S. HOUSE

National Fraud Enforcement Division Act

YesVOTED

Motion: On Passage

National Fraud Enforcement Division Act of 2026 This bill provides statutory authority for the National Fraud Enforcement Division within the Department of Justice (DOJ). The division investigates and prosecutes fraud against taxpayer dollars and taxpayer-funded programs.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 352–72·Substantive·Sep 16, 2026Roll call ↗
H.R. 5334 · U.S. HOUSE

An Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow early childhood educators to take the educator expense deduction, and for other purposes

NoVOTED

Motion: On Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendments

A yes vote agreed to the Senate's amendments to H.R. 5334, which add Russia sanctions, higher duties and an Iran Sanctions Act extension to the early-childhood educator deduction, sending the bill to the president. (AI-written)

Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 This bill imposes a variety of sanctions, tariffs, and prohibitions related to Russia, extends an Iran-related sanctions law, and expands a tax deduction for teacher expenses to include early childhood educators.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Passed 262–159·Substantive·Sep 16, 2026Roll call ↗
H.Con.Res. 93 · U.S. HOUSE

Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran

YesVOTED

Motion: On Agreeing to the Resolution

This concurrent resolution directs the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities against Iran unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or a congressional authorization for use of military force against Iran.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 220–204·Substantive·Sep 15, 2026Roll call ↗
H.J.Res. 210 · U.S. HOUSE

Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to “California State Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; Ocean-Going Vessels At-Berth; Notice of Decision”

NoVOTED

Motion: On Passage

This joint resolution revokes the authorization granted to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to amend its Ocean-Going Vessels At-Berth Regulation.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 216–211·Substantive·Sep 15, 2026Roll call ↗
H.R. 9500 · U.S. HOUSE

Tax Relief for Fraud Victims Act

YesVOTED

Motion: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended

A yes vote suspended the House rules and passed H.R. 9500, the Tax Relief for Fraud Victims Act, as amended, under a fast-track procedure that requires a two-thirds majority. (AI-written)

Tax Relief for Fraud Victims Act This bill expands the federal tax deduction for personal casualty and theft losses by eliminating certain limits, including the requirement that such losses arise from certain disasters.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 408–17·Substantive·Sep 15, 2026Roll call ↗

Showing 10 of 413 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.