Fairfax County School Board Chair Karl Frisch and City of Fairfax School Board Chair Carolyn Pitches Endorse Walkinshaw for Congress, Joined by Powerful Coalition of Northern Virginia Education Leaders
Fairfax, VA – Today, two of Northern Virginia’s leading public education advocates — Fairfax County School Board Chair Karl Frisch (Providence) and City of Fairfax School Board Chair Carolyn Pitches — endorsed Fairfax County Supervisor James Walkinshaw (D-Braddock) for Congress in Virginia’s 11th District.
They are joined in their support by a broad coalition of education leaders from across the region: from the Fairfax County School Board, Vice Chair Sandy Anderson (Springfield), Board Member and former Chair Rachna Sizemore Heizer (Braddock), Board Member and former Chair Ilryong Moon (At-Large), Board Member Marcia St. John-Cunning (Franconia), former Board Member Megan McLaughlin (Braddock), former Chair and Board Member Sandy Evans (Mason); and the entire City of Fairfax School Board including Vice Chair Amit Hickman, Board Member Lauren Bartelme, Board Member Kristina Cecere, and Board Member Sarah Kelse.
“We need more leaders in Congress like James Walkinshaw who will stand up to Donald Trump’s relentless attacks on public education and the rule of law. He has the courage and experience to fight back against efforts to undermine our schools, target immigrant and LGBTQ+ students, and gut protections for our most vulnerable children,” said Chair Frisch. “James will defend the federal investments our schools rely on to support low-income students, provide special education services, and feed hungry kids. He will stand up to the MAGA right to ensure every child, no matter their background, has access to a high-quality public education and a stable federal student loan system so they can attend college or pursue a trade.”
Chair Pitches emphasized the need for experienced leadership in Congress that understands the challenges facing local school systems.
“I know how critical it is to have leaders in Congress who will fight for our students and invest in the future of public education — not try to dismantle it. That’s why I’m proud to endorse James Walkinshaw for Congress,” said Pitches. “James understands the uniqueness of our community and the importance of our exceptional City of Fairfax public schools. He’s a thoughtful, committed public servant who will ensure the academic, social, and emotional needs of our students are always centered, regardless of their background. Our students, educators, and communities will have no better champion in Washington than James Walkinshaw.”
School board members echoed the sentiments shared by Frisch and Pitches, noting Walkinshaw is committed to ensuring every student has an opportunity to succeed.
“Gerry Connolly has left enormous shoes to fill, especially at a time when public education is under constant attack by this administration. We need a fighter in Congress — someone with a proven record and deep experience in Washington — and that’s James Walkinshaw,” said Vice Chair Anderson. “James has the values and the expertise we need to protect our public schools from those looking to cast them aside. He’ll stand up to the chaos and extremism in Congress and always put our students and families first.”
“For years, I’ve collaborated closely with James Walkinshaw to support Braddock District families, and I’ve seen firsthand how hard he works for our community. Whether he’s delivering results for local residents or standing up to Governor Youngkin to defend our shared values, James leads with thoughtfulness and conviction,” said Board Member and former Chair Sizemore Heizer. “In Congress, he’ll fight the MAGA right to protect public education. He’ll defend federal funding that ensures students receiving special education services have the inclusive, supportive school environments they need to thrive. James is a proven fighter who will stand up to Donald Trump and anyone else who threatens our values.”
“I’ve known Supervisor Walkinshaw for nearly twenty years and have seen his deep commitment to our community. He has always been a strong supporter of our Fairfax County Public Schools and a close friend to the Korean community,” said Board Member and former Chair Moon. “I’m proud to endorse him because he has the experience, knowledge, commitment, intellect, and temperament required for the job — and he is ready to stand up for Fairfax in Congress.”
“We need leaders in Congress who will stand up to Donald Trump’s attacks on our immigrant communities and multilingual learners. James Walkinshaw gets it. He didn’t back down when Trump allies threatened to throw him in jail for supporting local immigrant families on the Board of Supervisors, and he won’t back down when he’s representing us in Congress,” said School Board Member St. John-Cunning. “James will stand up to Trump and MAGA Republicans who want to gut the Department of Education and eliminate critical supports for multilingual learners. He’ll be a powerful advocate for the inclusive, equitable public education our students deserve.”
Walkinshaw expressed deep gratitude for the endorsements:
“I’m proud to have earned the trust of so many respected education leaders across our region,” said Supervisor Walkinshaw. “Our County and City schools set the standard for public education in America—not just for academic excellence, but for equity, innovation, and real opportunity for every child. That success is no accident. It’s the product of remarkable teachers, engaged families, and School Board leaders who fight every day for our students—and I’ve worked alongside them to increase funding, expand access, and support our educators. Now, that progress is under attack. Trump’s dangerous agenda would defund our schools, silence our teachers, and drag our classrooms backward. I’ll work with leaders at every level of government to stop Trump’s dangerous agenda—because the children of Fairfax deserve better than fear and political games. They deserve the full promise of a great public education.”
With 45 federal, state, and local endorsements—and thousands of residents rallying behind the campaign—momentum is surging behind James Walkinshaw to take the fight to Trump’s dangerous agenda on Day One.
From Fairfax City Hall to public classrooms, to Richmond, to Capitol Hill, trusted public servants, educators, families, and grassroots volunteers are uniting to send the best-prepared candidate to Congress and deliver real results for Fairfax.
The Democratic Firehouse Primary for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District will take place on Saturday, June 28, 2025.
Additional endorsements will be announced in the days ahead.
Current Endorsements Include:
Federal
- Congressman Don Beyer (VA-08)
- Former Congressman Gerry Connolly (VA-11)
- Former Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (VA-10)
State
- Former Attorney General Mark Herring
- Former Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn (HD-41)
- State Senator Barbara Favola (SD-40)
- State Senator Jennifer Boysko (SD-38)
- State Senator Dave Marsden (SD-35)
- Delegate David Bulova (HD-11)
- Delegate Vivian Watts (HD-14)
- Delegate Briana Sewell (HD-25)
- Delegate Rip Sullivan (HD-6)
Local
- Fairfax County Chairman Jeff McKay
- Fairfax County Sheriff Stacey Kincaid
- Supervisor Jimmy Bierman (Dranesville)
- Supervisor Rodney Lusk (Franconia)
- Supervisor Walter Alcorn (Hunter Mill)
- Supervisor Andres Jimenez (Mason)
- Supervisor Dan Storck (Mount Vernon)
- Supervisor Dalia Palchik (Providence)
- Supervisor Kathy Smith (Sully)
- City of Fairfax Mayor Catherine Read
- Former City of Fairfax Mayor David Meyer
- City of Fairfax Councilmember Billy Bates
- City of Fairfax Councilmember Stacey Hardy-Chandler
- Former City of Fairfax Councilmember Joseph Harmon
- Former City of Fairfax Councilmember So Lim
- Former City of Fairfax Councilmember Janice Miller
- Former City of Fairfax Councilmember Tom Ross
- Town of Herndon Mayor Keven LeBlanc
- Former Town of Herndon Mayor Sheila Olem
- Former Town of Herndon Mayor Lisa Merkel
- Former Town of Herndon Mayor Mike O’Reilly
- Fairfax County School Board Chair Karl Frisch (Providence)
- Fairfax County School Board Vice Chair Sandy Anderson (Springfield)
- Fairfax County School Board Member and former Chair Rachna Sizemore Heizer (Braddock)
- Fairfax County School Board Member and former Chair Ilryong Moon (At-Large)
- Fairfax County School Board Member Marcia St. John-Cunning (Franconia)
- Former Fairfax County School Board Member Megan McLaughlin (Braddock)
- Former Fairfax County School Board Chair and Member Sandy Evans (Mason)
- City of Fairfax School Board Chair Carolyn Pitches
- City of Fairfax School Board Vice Chair Amit Hickman
- City of Fairfax School Board Member Lauren Bartelme
- City of Fairfax School Board Member Kristina Cecere
- City of Fairfax School Board Member Sarah Kelsey
Learn more and join the campaign at: jameswalkinshaw.org.
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James Walkinshaw has devoted his career to ensuring that Northern Virginia remains a great place to live, work, and raise a family. He served as Chief of Staff to Congressman Gerry Connolly for more than a decade, stood up to the Trump Administration on the Board of Supervisors, and now he’s running for Congress to stop Trump’s dangerous agenda and deliver for Fairfax.
