In an election year dominated by state offices, Fairfax County voters now face the prospect of also electing a new lawmaker to represent them in Congress.
Following the death of longtime Rep. Gerry Connolly yesterday (Wednesday), voters will soon need to select a new representative for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District — a critical decision given the Republican Party’s slim majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
But, when could that happen? And how does the special election process work?
According to Virginia law, it’s a joint effort between the state executive and local political parties. Here’s more information on how a special election will play out.
First, the Governor will schedule the election
It’s up to Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin to decide when the special election will be held, though there are some laws he must follow when he does so.
Youngkin can’t schedule it within the prior 55 days of any previously-scheduled election, which is relevant with early voting underway for a Democratic primary to determine the party’s statewide and General Assembly nominees. That primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, June 17.
Because special elections are required to be held on Tuesdays, the earliest one for the 11th Congressional District seat could be held this year is June 24 — one week after the currently-scheduled primary.
Youngkin will issue a writ of election once his office determines an appropriate date, though there is no mandated timeline for doing so. When Rep. Donald McEachin died in late 2022, for example, the writ was issued 14 days after his death.
The governor will also decide a date when parties must formally declare their nominee.
Then, parties will decide their own primary process
According to Virginia law, “the duly constituted authorities” of local political parties — in this case, the 11th District Congressional Committees for both Democrats and Republicans — will be responsible for determining a party nominee.
Following McEachin’s death, the local Democratic Party held a “firehouse primary” consisting of a more traditional election process. The local Republican Party opted to embrace ranked-choice voting, which “allows for the candidate with the broadest base of support to win,” the party said.
In both cases, the turnaround was fast — candidates had less than a month to formally enter the race and campaign before a nominee was determined.
Anticipating the special election to be set for late August or early September, Democrats will likely hold a firehouse primary to determine its nominee in July, according to an individual with knowledge of Fairfax County Democratic Committee (FCDC) operations.
The 11th Congressional District committee will determine how the primary is formatted, including whether to use ranked-choice voting — the standard for FCDC’s endorsement caucuses, the individual told FFXnow.
Once the rules are finalized, the FCDC will help its 11th District committee administer the primary, which is expected to take place on one day with a few days of early voting.
“FCDC has already begun preliminary work to identify potential voting sites and ensure we have adequate volunteer coverage at each location,” FFXnow was told.
At least one voting location should be available in each magisterial district in the 11th district, which covers all of western and central Fairfax County with the exception of Clifton.
Who might be on the ballot?
After Connolly announced last month that he wouldn’t seek reelection in the 2026 midterms, several candidates launched campaigns for his seat, but they will need to file paperwork again to run in a special election.
Campaigns for all four contenders so far confirmed to FFXnow that they will run for the special election once it’s ordered.
Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw has emerged as an early favorite for the Democratic Party’s nomination, based on the endorsements he’s received, including from Connolly, his former boss. But he will have to beat out state Sen. Stella Pekarsky (D-36) and Fairfax County Planning Commissioner Candice Bennett (at-large) first.
Mike Van Meter, who unsuccessfully challenged Connolly for his seat last year, will seek the Republican nomination, his campaign says.
When would a new Congressperson take office?
Based on historical results, there isn’t a certain date in which the winner of a special election would take office.
Democrat Jennifer McClellan, who won the special election to replace McEachin, was sworn in on March 7, 2023, 14 days after making history as the first Black woman elected to Congress by Virginia voters.
However, in 2007, Republican Rob Wittman took office just two days after winning a special election for Virginia’s 1st Congressional District. Republican Randy Forbes, who won a special election in 2001, was seated one week after votes were cast.
