Local Democrats seeking to succeed the late Rep. Gerry Connolly sought to distinguish themselves from a crowded field yesterday (Wednesday), outlining how they would represent Virginia’s 11th Congressional District if elected.
Nine of the 10 candidates vying for the Democratic nomination attended the party’s lone forum at the Reston Community Center in Hunters Woods ahead of a primary election on Saturday (June 28).
The participating candidates were Fairfax County Planning Commissioner Candice Bennett, health entrepreneur Dan Lee, former Venezuelan congressman Leo Martinez, former CIA staffer Amy Papanu, state Sen. Stella Pekarsky, child psychiatrist Priya Punnoose, attorney Amy Roma, state Del. Irene Shin and Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw.
Immigration
At the forum, which was moderated by Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, all of the candidates expressed a disgust with President Donald Trump’s hardline approach to immigration, decrying nebulous policies that have rolled back legal protections and led to even U.S. citizens being detained and deported.
The previous Biden administration had maintained some policies from Trump’s first term, including a process to quickly expel asylum seekers and other migrants at the Mexican border, but Trump has expanded who Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can detain and where.
According to ICE data, the agency is detaining 50% more people now than it was at the end of President Joe Biden’s term, and nearly half of the detainees (47%) have no criminal record, CBS News reported.
Pekarsky recounted a conversation with one of her children, whose classmate had ICE officials knocking at their family’s door.
Pekarsky, whose husband left the Soviet Union under political asylum, noted that the Trump administration’s crackdown has led to countless stressors for immigrants, including the constant threat of deportation.
“That’s what we’re doing to our communities,” Pekarsky said. “That is disgusting. That is what happens when we lose our humanity.”
As one of three elected officials in the race, Walkinshaw highlighted his experience in this arena, noting his work in passing the county’s Trust Policy that ensures immigrant residents can access services without fear that their information will be disclosed.
“I think this issue of immigration is more than just about specific policies,” Walkinshaw said. “It’s really a battle over what America is … I believe very strongly that the idea of America is that an immigrant who arrived yesterday is just as much an American as I am.”
Amy Roma, a local attorney, identified two immigration goals: making sure the Trump Administration follows the law while pushing for “intelligent” immigration reform.
“Our immigration system is broken,” Roma said. “When I was at the border, a family was released from detention to pursue an asylum case in 2018 [and] their hearing date is in 2028. That’s how you create a shadow society where people cannot integrate and cannot become a normal American. ”
Strikes on Iranian nuclear sites
Mere days after Trump ordered strikes on three of Iran’s nuclear facilities, each of the Democratic candidates agreed the action unnecessarily escalated the country’s conflict with Israel.
Many of the candidates expressed frustration that a diplomatic resolution wasn’t thoroughly attempted, with three of them calling the strikes illegal.
“When there are issues that arise, we must create dialogue and engage with these individuals, because not doing so only puts us at risk — not just from a military strategic point of view, but from an economic point of view,” Dan Lee said.
Both Papanu and Pekarsky argued that the government leaders should focus on domestic issues, highlighting that action abroad doesn’t improve cost-of-living issues that plague many Americans.
“When Americans are struggling at home to put food on the table [and] to afford the cost of living, they don’t want their money — taxpayer dollars — going to long conflicts and wars,” Papanu said.
The Israel-Palestine conflict
Irene Shin was the first candidate to openly broach the ongoing violence in Gaza, expressing concern that American officials haven’t done enough to resolve the conflict.
“America has sort of absconded their authority and their moral obligation to that,” Shin said. “I think right now it is imperative for American leaders to be willing to step up and ask and call for a ceasefire.”
The Gaza Health Ministry has reported a death toll of 56,077 people since Israel began bombarding the territory in response to an Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas militants on Israeli towns, which left 1,200 people dead and 251 people taken as hostages.
Since it broke a two-month ceasefire on March 18, Israel has reportedly killed 5,759 people in Gaza, including at least 44 people who were seeking aid on Tuesday (June 24) when Israeli forces opened fire, the Associated Press reported.
When asked by a member of the audience about the war, Leo Martinez said he would “re-embark the United States in a policy that doesn’t take sides, but rather facilitates solutions.”
“The two-state solution is a goal, and we have seen, with much, much regret, that everything that has happened is deviating us and throwing us further apart from a two-state solution,” Martinez said. “We’ve got to … make sure that we protect civilians, we protect populations, we protect people in the middle of this conflict.”
Walkinshaw, who was also asked by an audience member about the topic, said a ceasefire was needed “yesterday” and that humanitarian aid needs to flow into the area. He did not, however, address whether or not he would seek an embargo on sending arms to Israel.
Small group of protestors seeking an arms embargo in the Middle East are organized outside of the #VA11 forum.
“James, your voters want an arms embargo!” they say to Walkinshaw as he leaves the community center. pic.twitter.com/9UP0EaauPN
— Jared Serre (@JaredSerre) June 25, 2025
Since the current Israel-Gaza conflict began, activists have repeatedly appeared at Board of Supervisors meetings to call on county leaders to support a ceasefire and divest from Israel, which they argue is committing genocide — a descriptor supported by the United Nations.
A recording of the full Democratic candidate forum can be found on YouTube.
Early voting for the Democratic nominee has already begun. Voters can visit the Fairfax County Government Center until 8 p.m. today (Wednesday) and from 3-8 p.m. tomorrow.
This Saturday, voters can cast ballots between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. at any of 17 different polling locations across the county. More information is available online via the 11th District Democratic Committee.
