11th Congressional District

Some, but not all, 11th District GOP candidates condemn ‘theatrics’ of DOGE cuts

Published June 24, 2025 at 1:45PM | Updated June 27, 2025 at 1:36PM

GOP Congressional candidates Lucas Rand and Karina Lipsman (staff photos by Jared Serre)

Roughly half of the Republicans seeking to represent Virginia’s 11th Congressional District condemned the process — but not the result — used by the Trump administration’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to slash the federal workforce.

Speaking to voters at a forum on Sunday (June 22), three of the candidates expressed a distaste for the way in which tens of thousands of federal government workers have been fired since President Donald Trump took office in January, allegedly to reduce spending.

News

Democrats, Republicans schedule candidate forums in 11th Congressional District race

By Jared Serre

Published June 20, 2025 at 9:15AM

Election Day voters check in at Cunningham Park Elementary School in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Candidates seeking to fill out the remainder of Rep. Gerry Connolly‘s term in Congress will speak directly to voters next week.

With a special election set for Sept. 9, both Democrats and Republicans have scheduled candidate forums to give voters insight into their potential nominees, who will be determined on Saturday, June 28.

News

Republicans will decide 11th Congressional District nominee at lone canvass event

By Jared Serre

Published June 9, 2025 at 1:45PM

Clockwise from top left: Mike Van Meter, Nathan Headrick, Lucas Rand, Karina Lipsman (photos via Fairfax GOP)

Local Republicans will determine their nominee for the 11th Congressional District special election on the same day as their Democratic counterparts.

A singular canvass event will be held on June 28 at Fairfax High School, gathering all voters in one location to select a nominee, Virginia’s 11th Congressional District Republican Committee announced last week.

News

Democrats plan ‘firehouse’ primary for 11th District special election

By Jared Serre

Published June 6, 2025 at 2:45PM | Updated June 9, 2025 at 3:08PM

The Fairfax County Government Center on Election Day 2024 (staff photo by Jared Serre)

June will be a hectic month for many Fairfax County voters.

In addition to participating in statewide elections, Democratic voters will be faced with choosing their party’s nominee for the 11th Congressional District special election to determine the late Rep. Gerry Connolly’s successor.

News

JUST IN: Youngkin schedules special election to replace Rep. Gerry Connolly

By Jared Serre

Published June 3, 2025 at 9:00AM | Updated June 3, 2025 at 10:17AM

Rep. Gerry Connolly speaks at Lorton Station Elementary School in 2024 (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Fairfax County voters will return to the polls this fall to choose a representative for the Virginia’s 11th Congressional District seat.

Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued a writ of election today (Tuesday) scheduling a special election for Sept. 9 to fill the seat left vacant by Rep. Gerry Connolly’s death on May 21.

News

Vienna energy expert launches bid for 11th Congressional District seat

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 30, 2025 at 10:00AM

Vienna resident and nuclear energy attorney Amy Roma is running for Virginia's 11th Congressional District seat (courtesy Amy Roma for Congress)

A special election to fill the late Rep. Gerry Connolly’s now-open seat in Congress still hasn’t been officially ordered, but the number of Democrats seeking to stake a claim is now up to six.

Amy Roma, a Vienna resident and lawyer who specializes in energy policy, officially launched a campaign for the 11th Congressional District yesterday (Thursday) — the same day that Leopoldo Martínez, who’s also a lawyer, announced his own bid to become the Democratic nominee.

News

Former Venezuelan congressman joins race to succeed Rep. Gerry Connolly

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 29, 2025 at 8:30AM

Leopoldo Martinez is campaigning for the Democratic nomination for Virginia's 11th Congressional District (courtesy Leo Martinez for Congress Campaign)

The race to find a replacement for the late Rep. Gerry Connolly has added another contender.

Leopoldo Martínez, a lawyer who once served in Venezuela’s National Assembly, launched a campaign today (Thursday) for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, where he’ll compete for the Democratic nomination in an increasingly crowded field.

Countywide

What to expect from a special election to replace late Rep. Gerry Connolly

By Jared Serre

Published May 22, 2025 at 1:45PM | Updated May 22, 2025 at 9:50PM

Election signs outside the Fairfax County Government Center (staff photo by Jared Serre)

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.

Countywide

BREAKING: Rep. Gerry Connolly, longtime Fairfax politician, dies

By Jared Serre

Published May 21, 2025 at 9:05AM | Updated February 5, 2026 at 7:38PM

U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (photo courtesy Congressional office)

Rep. Gerald “Gerry” Connolly, an influential Democratic voice for nearly 30 years as a local and national legislator, has died. He was 75.

Connolly, who represented Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, died this morning (Wednesday) at his Mantua home of esophageal cancer, an illness he had battled on-and-off since November 2024, his family announced.

Countywide

Fairfax planning commissioner announces Congressional run

By Jared Serre

Published May 19, 2025 at 9:15AM

Candice Bennett (photo by Alex Sakes)

A Fairfax County planning commissioner is the latest candidate seeking to replace retiring Rep. Gerry Connolly.

Candice Bennett, who has served on the commission since 2020, announced Thursday (May 15) that she will campaign for the Democratic nomination for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, which includes most of Fairfax County.