va special election winner walkinshaw connolly.

Democrats and Republicans in northern Virginia have chosen candidates who will vie to replace the late U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly. The Democrat served Virginia’s 11th Congressional District in the Washington suburbs for 16 years. Democrats chose James Walkinshaw, who was formerly Connolly’s chief of staff. Republicans chose Army veteran Stewart Whitson. Political observers have said that the district’s Democratic primary likely will determine Connolly’s successor in the reliably Democratic district. It is home to more than 700,000 people and includes communities such as Fairfax, Reston and Vienna. The candidates will compete in a special election Sept. 9. Connolly died last month after battling cancer.