Fairfax, VA – Today, former Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Sharon Bulova, former Vice Chairman and Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross, and former Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust endorsed Fairfax County Supervisor James Walkinshaw (D-Braddock) for Congress, calling him the best-prepared candidate to fight Donald Trump’s dangerous agenda and deliver for Fairfax in the way constituents have come to expect from their local leadership.
All three served alongside Walkinshaw on the Board of Supervisors or worked with him during his time as Chief of Staff to Congressman Gerry Connolly. Their endorsement reflects confidence in Walkinshaw’s leadership—and a belief that he represents the next generation ready to meet this moment and propel Fairfax forward.
“I had the opportunity to work with James when he was Gerry Connolly’s Chief of Staff and saw just how effective he is,” said Sharon Bulova, former Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. “That’s why I supported him when he ran for the Board of Supervisors, where he has been a bold and effective voice for affordable housing, school funding, and more. I’m proud to endorse him for Congress because I know he is best-prepared to fight for Fairfax at this critical moment.”
“As a colleague on the Board of Supervisors, I served with James Walkinshaw for four years and saw firsthand his ability to advocate fiercely for our diverse community and his detail-oriented approach to constituent service,” said Penny Gross, former Vice Chairman and former Mason District Supervisor. “Those traits are exactly what we need in Congress right now. I’m proud to endorse him.”
“I served with James Walkinshaw for four years, and let me tell you, that guy is a fighter. I watched him take on Republicans, from Pat Herrity to Andrew Wheeler, Trump’s EPA Administrator,” said John Foust, former Dranesville District Supervisor. “James doesn’t back down and he comes to every fight prepared to win. That’s what we need in Congress and why I’m proud to endorse him.”
Walkinshaw expressed gratitude for their support and underscored his commitment to protecting the progress made under their leadership.
“Chairman Bulova, Vice Chairman Gross, and Supervisor Foust helped make Fairfax one of the most forward-looking, inclusive communities in the country,” said Supervisor Walkinshaw. “I’m proud to have their trust—and I’m ready to protect what we’ve built. Trump’s agenda threatens everything from our schools to our freedoms. I’ll stand up for Fairfax families every step of the way.”
With 48 federal, state, and local endorsements—and thousands of residents rallying behind the campaign—momentum has rapidly grown behind James Walkinshaw to take the fight to Trump’s dangerous agenda on Day One.
From Fairfax City Hall to public classrooms, to Richmond and Capitol Hill, trusted public servants, educators, families, and grassroots volunteers are united 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 be held 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)
- Former Fairfax County Chairman Sharon Bulova (Braddock)
- Former Fairfax County Vice Chairman Penny Gross (Mason)
- Former Fairfax County Supervisor John Foust (Dranesville)
- 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.
