FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 20, 2026
February 20, 2026
Contact:
Tim Kauffman
202-374-6491
[email protected]
Largest Federal Employee Union Endorses Rep. James Walkinshaw for Reelection to Congress
Categories:
Congress
AFGE says Walkinshaw stands with federal employees and working families
WASHINGTON –– The American Federation of Government Employees today announced its endorsement of Rep. James Walkinshaw for reelection to the U.S. House representing Virginia’s 11th Congressional District in the 2026 elections. The statewide primary is Aug. 4, and the general election is Nov. 3.
Rep. Walkinshaw has stood with federal employees and working families consistently since being elected to Congress in September 2025 to fill the seat previously held by Rep. Gerry Connolly. From championing fair pay raises and shutdown protections to founding the bipartisan and bicameral Federal Workforce Caucus, Walkinshaw has demonstrated a clear understanding of the importance of a strong, nonpartisan civil service and the need to protect federal workers from political attacks and instability.
“AFGE is proud to support a leader who understands the vital role federal workers play in serving our nation and who will continue defending their rights, pay, and dignity in Congress,” AFGE District 14 National Vice President Ottis Johnson Jr. and District 4 NVP Christine Surrette said in a joint statement.
Walkinshaw served as Rep. Connolly’s chief of staff for 10 years before being elected to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, where he secured school funding, expanded solar energy, advanced gun safety reforms, and championed collective bargaining for employees. He also led the Regional Transportation Planning Board and the Virginia Railway Express Operations Board, improving regional transit.
More than 147,000 federal employees live in Virginia – caring for veterans, supporting the military, and getting Social Security recipients their benefits accurately and on time.
AFGE is the largest federal employee union in the country, representing more than 820,000 federal and D.C. government workers in all functions of government. AFGE represents nearly more than 43,000 federal employees in District 4, which includes Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia; and more than 70,000 federal employees in District 14, which includes metropolitan D.C. and Europe.
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