Virginians are set to vote for the late Rep. Gerry Connolly’s successor in a special election on Sept. 9.
Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Tuesday called for a special election to fill the northern Virginia seat left vacant after the longtime lawmaker’s passing on May 21.
Virginia’s 11th district is deep blue and will almost assuredly elect another Democrat.
The special election will be the third this fall to fill vacancies left by the passing of Democratic lawmakers. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, set a Nov. 4 special election to replace Rep. Sylvester Turner in April, following consternation among statewide Democrats, who threatened to sue the governor over the monthlong delay in setting the date.
Arizona voters will also wait to find a successor for Rep. Raúl Grijalva, with Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, setting a Sept. 23 special election date after Grijalva’s March 13 passing. Arizona state law generally requires a longer timeline for a special election than many other states.
Connolly, who had battled with esophageal cancer, had announced on April 28 that he would not seek reelection to represent the heavily Democratic D.C. suburb in 2026. In early May, the Virginian endorsed his former aide, James Walkinshaw, for the job. But the field is already getting crowded, with five other Democrats and two Republicans also tossing their hats in the ring.
