Republicans
Republican Candidates for the 2025 VA-11 Special GOP Primary (Canvas), June 28 to select the party’s nominee for the Sept. 9 special election. Primary held at Fairfax High School. Early voting Friday, June 27, 2 p.m.-7 p.m., Fairfax County Government Center. For pre-registration and more GOP information on canvass details, see: 11cdgop.org/
Karina Lipsman, https://karinaforcongress.com/
Nathan Headrick, https://headrickforcongress.com/
Mike Van Meter, https://www.vanmeterforvirginia.com/
Lucas Rand, https://www.lucasrand.com/
Sam Wong, https://sam4congress.org/
Stewart Whitson, www.whitsonforcongress.com/
Arthur Purves, 11cdGOP/arthur
Democrats
Democratic Candidates for the 2025 VA-11 Special Democratic Primary (Unassembled Caucus) June 28, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to select the party’s nominee for the Sept. 9 special election. Primary held at multiple locations. Early voting June 24-26, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Fairfax County Government Center. For more information, see https://www.cd11votes.com/
James Walkinshaw, https://jameswalkinshaw.org/
Stella Pekarsky, https://www.stellapekarsky.com
Candice Bennett, https://candiceforva.com/
Amy Roma, https://amyroma.com/
Leo J. Martínez Nucete, www.leomartinezforcongress.com/
Irene Shin, https://ireneforva.com/
Amy Papanu, https://amypapanu.com/
Dan Lee, https://www.danleeforvirginia.com/
On June 28, Republicans and Democrats in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District will be casting ballots to determine party nominees for the 11th Congressional District’s Sept. 9, 2025, Special Election. In September, eligible voters will cast a ballot for a member of the United States House of Representatives to fill the vacancy created by the passing of the Honorable Gerald E. Connolly.
As of Friday, June 20, seventeen candidates — 10 Democrats and seven Republicans — are vying for their parties’ nominations at the June 28 primary being held in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District. Nominees will run in the Sept. 9 special election to fill the vacant seat of the late Rep. Gerry Connolly, a Democrat who won by a large margin in the 2022 election. There is also one independent candidate. The 11th District encompasses the City of Fairfax and the majority of Fairfax County.
On June 28, the 11th Congressional District Republican Canvass will take place at Fairfax High School from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Early voting for the GOP is scheduled for Friday, June 27, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Fairfax Government Center, Room 7.
On the same day, June 28, the Democratic Nomination Caucus for the 11th congressional District of Virginia will be held by the Congressional District Democratic Committee. The caucus will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. There are 17 locations for the June 28 voting for the 2025 VA-11 Special Democratic Primary. Registered voters in the 11th Congressional District may vote at any of the designated voting locations for the caucus. Visit Info for Voters | VA-11 Democratic Caucus 2025 at visit https://bit.ly/4jIaTT7 for a list of those locations.
Early voting will be held for the Democratic Nomination on June 24, 25, and 26 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the main Fairfax County Government Center located at 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax.
Who is seeking nomination to run in the Sept.9 special election?
As of June 20, it appears that the upcoming Sept. 9, 2025, special election in Virginia's 11th Congressional District will feature three names on the ballot: the GOP nominee, the Democratic nominee, and an independent candidate.
The special election is important because the Republican Party holds a slim majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. As of June 20, the configuration is Republicans’ 220 seats; Democrats 213 seats and Vacancies three seats, (following the deaths of three Democrats – Reps. Gerry Connolly (VA), Raúl M. Grijalva (Ariz.), and Sylvester Turner (Texas) – whose seats will be filled after special elections in September and November.
Special Election canvass, June 28-Republican Candidates
Information sourced from GOP11
Karina Lipsman was born in the former Soviet Union and came to the U.S. as a child refugee. As a citizen at 18, she put herself through college and grad school, leading to a career in national security where she advised U.S. leaders and worked with major defense contractors. She currently works for the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. Gov. Glenn Youngkin appointed her to the Office of New Americans Advisory Board. She believes “in economic freedom, public safety, and securing America’s future, rejecting the failed policies of career politicians.”
Nathan Headrick was raised in North Carolina and lives in Great Falls with his wife and five children. He is an entrepreneur and an executive of an investment fund. Headric earned a master’s degree from Harvard University and a law degree from Georgetown. His website says he will “fight for lower taxes, stronger communities, personal freedom, and integrity in our dialogues. … Will be a voice for every Northern Virginian who is ready to say 'enough' to ineffective policies and wasteful spending.”
Mike Van Meter is a Burke resident who has raised two children with his wife. He is an addiction counselor at NOVA hospital. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Florida in Political Science and a Master of Arts degree in Addiction Counseling: Integrated Recovery for Co-Occurring Disorders-Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies in 2022. He served as a Police Officer for the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., and joined the FBI in 1999. Van Meter’s platform: Secure the border; reduce crime. “My experience in law enforcement as well as the addiction and mental health field gives me unique qualifications that very few people have.” Improve the economy; educate, not indoctrinate.
Lucas Rand is a husband, father, decorated military veteran, and hospital administrator. He earned his undergraduate degree through Excelsior College and an MBA from the University of North Carolina. Rand is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Rand is running “to restore servant leadership to government. Driven by a belief that political infighting, posturing, and games are not in the service of Virginians, he is committed to putting Virginians first, setting aside partisan distractions. Issues: “cutting exorbitant taxes, stopping government waste, or improving healthcare systems.”
Sam Wong is an American-born, 3rd-generation U.S. Army Veteran, with 28 years of distinguished active-duty service, including combat tours and diplomatic assignments; Bronze Star Medal recipient. He holds dual Master's degrees in STEM and Business Administration. Wong has been the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post Commander for three consecutive years. According to his campaign materials: “Over four decades living and working in China, Japan, Europe, and South America have given him a unique understanding of both foreign policy and the challenges facing American families today. Sam is a Christian Conservative, small business owner, and passionate community advocate.”
Stewart Whitson is a Great Falls resident, U.S. Army combat veteran, former FBI Special Agent, and currently Senior Director of Federal Affairs, serving at one of the U.S.'s top conservative think tanks, where he “fights every day to advance conservative policy on Capitol Hill.” “Republicans have now been given what could be a once-in-a-generation opportunity to seize the District from the grip of the Democratic party, strengthen our narrow majority in Congress, and deliver results for the American people.” Whitson’s priorities include “Fix the economy, restore public safety, and tackle waste, fraud, and abuse.”
Arthur Purves grew up in Washington, D.C., and has a BA, MS, and MBA from the University of Pennsylvania. He retired after 40 years as a computer programmer. He and his late wife, Carol, moved to Vienna in 1976. A perennial candidate, for 27 years he has been president of the Fairfax County Taxpayers Alliance. Arthur was Scoutmaster for a small Latino troop, has helped a refugee family with asylum applications, was treasurer for the Fairfax Committee of 100 and served on the 2014 Fairfax County Meals Tax Task Force and on the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Family Life Education Advisory Committee.
Special Election primary, June 28-Democratic Candidates
Information sourced from political mailers as well as candidates’ websites, LinkedIn, and CD11Votes.
James R. Walkinshaw, the Braddock district representative on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, was born and raised in Northern Virginia and lives in Fairfax County with his wife and son. Walkinshaw graduated from New York University with a degree in government; served for over a decade as Chief of Staff to late Congressman Gerry Connolly, who endorsed Walkinshaw as his replacement in May. “This is not a moment for on-the-job training. We need a strong representative, experienced in addressing national issues that affect our community, who can stand up to Trump and lead from day one. I believe James Walkinshaw is that leader,” says a May 7, 2025 letter from Connolly. Walkinshaw says his priorities are: reducing gun violence, protecting immigrant rights, expanding access to affordable housing, supporting Ukraine, and defending democracy. Source: [https://jameswalkinshaw.org/about/]
Stella G. Pekarsky was the child of working-class Greek immigrants. She earned her Master’s degree in Education from George Mason University. As a Virginia State Senator, she passed major consumer protection laws, took on corporate monopolies at the national level, and delivered record funding for public schools in Fairfax County. Pekarsky will stand up against Trump’s attacks on federal employees and work to ensure families can access and achieve the American Dream. As chair of the Fairfax County School Board, she fought against Governor Glenn Youngkin’s attempts to politicize Virginia classrooms. Pekarsky defended an inclusive curriculum, opposed discriminatory policies, and defended local control. [Source:https://www.stellapekarsky.com/meet-stella]
Candice Bennett is a longtime resident and at-large Fairfax County Planning Commissioner, serves as Deputy Executive Director at Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services, and is on the Virginia Housing Board. She is a small business owner. Key issues include supporting federal workers and contractors, protecting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, promoting affordable housing by expanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, advocating for zoning reform, and fully funding housing assistance programs. Bennett will release a comprehensive anti-corruption platform, including repealing the Insurrection Act, restricting the federalization of the National Guard, passing the No Kings Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, banning congressional stock trading, and implementing ranked-choice voting in Democratic primaries. [Source:https://candiceforva.com/]
Amy Roma is an attorney and expert on energy policy. “Trust in our institutions is strained, and families are working harder than ever to make ends meet; voters deserve better,” Roma said in a press release on June 2. Issues include Economic strength, an economy that works for everyone. Roma will advocate for targeted federal investment in sectors critical to U.S. competitiveness—advanced fission and fusion, AI, responsible cryptocurrency innovation. To Roma, “National security … isn’t just about weapons, it’s about whether America still leads the world.” Democracy: “I’ll challenge unconstitutional firings, unlawful directives, and political interference in independent agencies. I won’t wait for courts to act — I’ll act from inside Congress on day one.” Public well-being: Protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid: I will defend against cuts, privatization schemes, and backdoor sabotage.” [Source: AmyRoma.com]
Leo J. Martinez served as a former Venezuelan congressman. “He and his family paid a steep price - government seizure of family assets, physical attacks, kidnapping attempts, and threats of imprisonment. … No one understands the fragility of democracy more personally than Martínez - and just how vital it is that we defend it.” Martínez graduated from Harvard Law School and Princeton University School of Public and International Affairs. He has worked as a U.S. Department of Commerce Counselor, a human rights advocate, and a small business champion. “After being forced from his home and immigrating to the United States, [he] dedicated the next 20 years to public service and advocacy. Here in Virginia, he served our Commonwealth on the University of Mary Washington Board and was a leader on Governor Northam’s Small Business Legislative Committee.“
“I am running to give working families here in our community the same chance it gave my family twenty years ago. As someone who lived through authoritarianism, I can tell you: The world is watching. And we cannot afford to fail.” [Source: Martinezforcongress]
Irene Shin, the daughter of Korean immigrants, serves in the Virginia House of Delegates. Shin is “dedicated to shaping the government to be more responsive to and reflective of the people. She’s running for Congress because this moment demands real generational change and fresh ideas in D.C,” she says in priorities on her campaign website. Priorities include innovation, “not falling behind on the development of crypto and blockchain technology; …championing legislation that creates responsible regulatory frameworks and opportunities for continuing innovation, like the CLARITY Act and the GENIUS Act;” and combating corporate greed. “The cost of living is out of control,” says Shin. “I will work to: Raise taxes on billionaires and corporations ... Investigate the healthcare and drug companies monopolizing their services and denying care, … Regulate the gig economy, raise the federal minimum wage, and advocate for workplace safety regulations. [Source: https://ireneforva.com/issues/]
Amy Papan is a former CIA Operations Officer who worked closely with Congress to pass national security legislation. Lifelong public servant, she is ready to “fight against the extreme attacks on the federal workforce and agencies that make our country strong.” Papanu joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation, then became a “Foreign Service Officer at the U.S. Department of State, deployed on classified missions to some of the most dangerous regions in the world in the wake of 9/11.” She “served in Baghdad, where she worked on counterterrorism strategy and supported high-stakes hostage operations. “She spent her career confronting authoritarianism and extremism abroad.”She will fight to protect Social Security and Medicare, strengthen the middle class, defend reproductive rights, protect small businesses, and stop gun violence. She’ll stand up to Trump’s corruption and push back against reckless economic policies like his damaging tariffs.“ [Source: Amypapanu.com]
Dan Lee earned his undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences from George Washington University and a Master of Public Health and MBA from Dartmouth. Lee grew up in a working immigrant family and says that “career politicians do not know how to fight while one in five American families go into debt.” Lee is running “to represent the next generation of leaders who aren’t part of the elected class.” He will step up and take action. ”We’re up against threats we haven’t seen in a generation. And too many Democratic leaders in Washington are showing up but not fighting back. We need new blood, new ideas, and fighters with a vision for what can be achieved beyond the current catastrophe.” One vote in Congress can make a difference in stopping the Trump agenda, and I’ll be that vote.” [Source: Danleeforvirginia]
Dr. Priya Punnoose is a child psychiatrist. After completing her undergraduate studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, Priya earned her medical degree from the American University of Antigua. She went on to train in adult psychiatry at Central Michigan University and completed her fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at Children’s National Hospital (CNH) in Washington, DC.
Punnoose says on her website “Policies should protect children, not traumatize them, but that's exactly what Trump's constant chaos is doing to kids. I didn't have to worry about active shooter drills or whooping cough or measles outbreaks or if my dad's job went away or if my friends were suddenly taken away growing up here. Your kids shouldn't have to either.” https://www.punnooseforcongress.com/
Ross William Branstetter IV says on his website, “He will work to pass the Basic Rights Amendment, the Equal Rights Amendment, and to guarantee due process to those imprisoned without public trial in Cuba.” No photo available. https://www.ross4congress.org/