Since this past November, House Speaker Mike Johnson has struggled to preside over a razor-thin Republican majority on Capitol Hill.

The House speaker's task got more challenging this week after the GOP's candidate was defeated in a Virginia special election. 

James Walkinshaw wins three quarters of the vote in suburban district

According to Breitbart, the race in Virginia's 11th Congressional District was called by the Associated Press on Tuesday night for Democrat James Walkinshaw, who is a member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

Walkinshaw carried nearly 75% of the largely suburban district's electorate, which covers most of Northern Virginia's Fairfax County.

He was challenged by Republican nominee Stewart Whitson, a military veteran and former FBI agent who only managed to secure just over 25% of the vote.

Walkinshaw was quick to tout his win in a social media post, writing, "I am humbled by the confidence that Fairfax voters have placed in me. On Day One, I am ready to stand up for Fairfax."

"From taking on DOGE to defending our democracy, I will fight every single day to deliver results for the people of the 11th District," the politician added.

GOP candidate says he "could not be more proud of the campaign we ran"

Meanwhile, Whitson released a statement of his own, saying, "While tonight's outcome was not what we hoped for, I could not be more proud of the campaign we ran and the movement we built together."

My full statement on tonight's election results. pic.twitter.com/7EeK5oYIZn

— Stewart Whitson (@stew_whitson) September 10, 2025

"From day one, this campaign was about service, giving the people of Northern Virginia a voice, and fighting for the change our community deserves," he continued.

Whitson went on to thank "the volunteers who knocked on countless doors in the heat, made thousands of phone calls, and poured their hearts into this effort."

Seat opened up when Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly died of esophageal cancer

Virginia's 11th Congressional District was vacated earlier this year by longtime Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly, who announced his departure just weeks before passing away due to esophageal cancer.

"After grueling treatments, we've learned that my cancer, while initially beaten back, has now returned," Fox News quoted a statement put out by Connolly in April as reading.

"With no rancor and a full heart, I move into this final chapter full of pride in what we've accomplished together over 30 years," the veteran lawmaker stressed.