Virginia special election is warning sign for Republicans
The Democrats headed Tuesday towards the victory during a special election for the 11th district of the Virginia Congress, the elected representative James Walkinshaw defeating his republican opponent by a huge margin of 50 points.
Walkinshaw’s victory from 74.9% to 25.1% against Republican Stewart Whitson is a massive outperformance compared to the old vice-president of 34.3% Kamala Harris margin in this seat in November, according to to data from Downballot.
And this large victory is a warning sign for the Republicans – both for the middle of 2026, but more imminently the next elections of governors in Virginia in November.
The fact that the Democrats wildly outnummate their margins of 2024 in the State – which Harris won– is a sign that the GOP will have trouble in the governor’s elections.
The survey already shows that the Democratic candidate for Governor Abigail Spanberger has a dominant advance on his opponent, fanatic Governor’s Republican Lieutenant Winsome Earle-Sears. A investigation Released on Tuesday showed that Spanberger leading Earle-Sears 9 points.
Virginia is a particularly perilous state for Republicans, because residents there have been disproportionately affected By the massive department of effectiveness of the Donald Trump government, the federal workforce cuts.
Indeed, the office of labor statistics reported This unemployment rate in Virginia went from 2.8% in July 2024 to 3.6% in July 2025. Do not be afraid. The outgoing governor of the Glenn Youngkin Gop Directed Virginians out of work very educated to the job councils With lists for storage and warehouse barista.
In his victory speech, Walkinshaw said his victory was a message to the Republicans.
“Thanks to you, we took a hard blow to Donald Trump. This is the first of a series of victories for the Democrats: together, we will elected a governor of Abigail Spanberger in November, and bring the congress back in 2026”, Walkinshaw said In a victory message Tuesday evening.
We don’t know when Walkinshaw is sworn. His election fills the vacancy left by the -Rep. Gerry Connolly, who deceased cancer in May at the age of 75. Once Walkinshaw has sworn, Democrats will refine most of the GOP to two seats.
