www.thecentersquare.com – By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-05-29 11:25:00
Virginia will hold a special election to fill the 11th Congressional District seat after the death of Democrat Rep. Gerry Connolly, who served since 2009. Connolly, 75, died of cancer after announcing he wouldn’t seek reelection. The governor must issue a writ to trigger the election, which cannot occur within 55 days of other federal elections but can coincide with a general election. Five Democrats have filed to run, with the nomination decided in a special primary; no Republicans have filed yet. The winner will complete Connolly’s term ending January 2027. The election date remains unannounced.
(The Center Square) – Virginia will hold a special election to fill the 11th Congressional District seat left vacant by the death of Rep. Gerry Connolly, a Democrat who had represented the Northern Virginia district since 2009.
Connolly, 75, died after a battle with cancer. He announced in April that he would not seek reelection, setting up a competitive primary before the race shifted into a special election process.
A spokesperson for the Virginia Department of Elections confirmed that the governor must issue a writ of election to trigger the special vote. The election cannot be held within 55 days of a primary or general election, but it can be scheduled on the same day as a general election. Virginia also requires 45 days of early voting for federal elections.
As of Thursday, the governor had not announced a date.
Constituent services will continue through Connolly’s existing staff with oversight from the Clerk of the U.S. House, but no one can vote or introduce legislation on behalf of the district until a successor is sworn in.
The 11th District, which includes most of Fairfax County and parts of Prince William County, has been a Democratic stronghold for over a decade. Connolly won reelection in 2024 with 67% of the vote.
Five Democrats have filed to run in the special election, according to state and federal records: James Walkinshaw, Stella Pekarsky, Candice Bennett, Joshua Aisen and Leopoldo Martinez.
The Democratic nomination will be decided in a special primary, but the date and method have not yet been announced.
No Republican candidates had publicly filed for the seat as of Thursday.
It remains unclear whether the special election will be held separately or aligned with Virginia’s primary or general election schedule. The winner will serve out the remainder of Connolly’s term, which ends in January 2027.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
The article primarily provides a straightforward report on the logistics and context surrounding a special election in Virginia, focusing on factual details such as the background of the vacancy, election rules, candidates who have filed, and the political landscape of the district. It includes information on the deceased representative’s tenure and electoral history without using language that promotes a particular ideological stance or political agenda. The tone is neutral, avoiding loaded or partisan terminology, and the coverage of candidates is limited to listing names without evaluative commentary. Therefore, the content adheres to neutral, factual reporting by describing the situation and the parties involved without contributing a discernible political bias itself.
www.youtube.com – WTVR CBS 6 – 2025-05-30 08:20:13
SUMMARY: Severe storm threat today. Overnight rain has moved out, but strong to severe thunderstorms are expected by mid-afternoon, especially west of I-95, with the best chance between 3 to 9 p.m. These storms may produce damaging wind gusts, large hail, and possible isolated tornadoes due to some wind shear. Clouds will increase as storms arrive from the west, with timing slightly variable across models. Tomorrow will be cooler with temperatures in the 50s, lower humidity, and scattered showers or storms with less severe weather. The weekend will be cooler with highs in the mid-70s and dry conditions through midweek. Stay weather aware.
Strong to severe storms are possible from id-afternoon through mid-evening.
www.youtube.com – 12 On Your Side – 2025-05-30 06:46:01
SUMMARY: Friday’s weather is marked by a First Alert due to strong late-day storms expected to begin around 3 p.m. There is a scattered risk of severe storms with possible wind, hail, and tornado threats depending on atmospheric conditions and developments near the Blue Ridge. Early morning rain ends by 7 a.m., followed by increasing sunshine that will destabilize the atmosphere, fueling storm potential. Temperatures will reach a high near 79°F. Saturday has a 50/50 chance for scattered showers or storms with cooler, drier air arriving, while Sunday promises pleasant weather in the mid-70s. Dry conditions return Monday through Thursday with rising heat.
First Alert Forecast: Friday’s strong late-day storms
www.youtube.com – NBC4 Washington – 2025-05-29 21:37:47
SUMMARY: Senior Airman Austin Irving, named USO Airman of the Year, saved a fellow serviceman from suicide and now advocates for mental health in the Air Force. Struggling with anxiety and fearing loss of security clearance and respect, Austin once planned to take his life. His colleague, Anthony Palasios, recognized the crisis and intervened, preventing Austin from going home and notifying a commander. Austin was hospitalized, received treatment, and learned coping skills. Now recovered, he works as a suicide prevention specialist, encouraging others to seek help. Both men are committed to supporting mental health and saving lives within their squadron.
A senior Air Force airman being hailed a hero for helping a suicidal colleague get the help he needed. He and the colleague he saved sat down with News4’s Aimee Cho to share their emotional story.
_______
NBC4 Washington / WRC-TV is the No. 1 broadcast television station and the home of the most-watched local news in Washington, D.C. The station leads the market in providing timely and breaking news and information in text, video and graphics across more than 15 platforms including NBCWashington.com, the NBC4 app, NBC4 streaming news channel, newsletters, and social media.
