James has made preventing domestic violence and sexual assault—and protecting survivors—a top priority throughout his career. Before being elected to the Board of Supervisors, he helped create Fairfax County’s “Make the Call” campaign to ensure survivors could access the County’s 24-hour domestic and sexual violence hotline. He chaired Fairfax’s Council to End Domestic Violence for three years, working to expand access to services and strengthen the County’s support systems for victims.

James has been a consistent advocate for common-sense gun safety laws that protect communities while respecting responsible gun ownership. On the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, he led the effort to pass a landmark ordinance banning guns in County buildings, libraries, rec centers, and parks. When the NRA sued Fairfax County to overturn the ordinance, James didn’t back down—and today, those protections remain in place.

James is a proud graduate of Northern Virginia public schools and knows that strong public education is the foundation of a thriving community and economy. Despite chronic underfunding from Richmond, he has fought to increase local investments in Fairfax County Public Schools—securing over $587 million in new funding, supporting teacher pay raises, bonuses, and the renovation and modernization of our school buildings.

James ran for the Board of Supervisors with a commitment to addressing the climate crisis and making Fairfax County carbon neutral. As Chair of the Board’s Environmental Committee, he has led efforts to transition County buildings to solar energy, convert the vehicle fleet to electric, and empower residents to reduce their carbon footprint.

James has worked at every level of government to grow and protect Northern Virginia’s economy. As Chief of Staff to Congressman Gerry Connolly, he helped secure millions in federal funding for Fairfax County and protected the region’s federal workforce. On the Board of Supervisors, he supported small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic with critical grants and stood up to attacks from Donald Trump and Elon Musk targeting public servants.

James understands that the high cost of housing is one of the biggest challenges facing families in Fairfax County and across the country. He has championed local efforts to increase the housing supply, including the conversion of an underutilized County-owned parking lot into 279 new affordable housing units and a childcare facility for working families.

Fairfax County’s status as the safest large jurisdiction in the country is no accident. It’s the result of sustained investment in public safety and a focus on building trust between law enforcement and the community. James has supported higher pay for police officers, the creation of co-responder teams for behavioral health crises, the deployment of police body cameras, and strengthening of the County’s independent Police Civilian Review Panel.

James believes that access to comprehensive reproductive health care—including contraception, IVF, abortion, prenatal care, and cancer screenings—is a fundamental right. As Chairman of the Board’s Legislative Committee, he led the successful effort to include protection of reproductive freedom in Fairfax County’s legislative platform, and supported County efforts to expand access in the wake of the Dobbs decision.

James believes every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity. He helped Fairfax County earn a perfect 100 out of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index—a reflection of its commitment to inclusion and civil rights.

James has been a tireless advocate for veterans and military families in Fairfax County. When an oversight in state law denied tax relief to spouses of service members who died in the line of duty, James worked to pass new legislation and drafted the local ordinance to fix it. He then created Fairfax County’s first-ever Veterans and Military Families Commission to ensure veterans’ voices are heard at every level of local government.

James believes our democracy is at a critical turning point. The Trump Administration is ignoring judicial orders, disappearing people to foreign prisons, and ignoring due process protections. Democrats in Congress must stand up and defend our democracy against Trump’s unrelenting assaults.

James has been a regional leader on transportation, working to build a more connected, sustainable, and efficient transportation system for Northern Virginia. As Chair of the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board—the region’s federally-designated Metropolitan Planning Organization—he is leading the development of a long-range transportation plan that addresses congestion, expands access, and reduces carbon emissions across the D.C. metropolitan area.

James believes that immigrants are a vital part of our community and our economy—and that America is strongest when we live up to our values as a nation of opportunity and refuge. Fairfax County is home to thousands of immigrant families who contribute to our schools, our businesses, and our culture. James has consistently stood up for their rights and worked to make local government more inclusive and accessible.

James believes that health care is a human right—not a privilege reserved for the wealthy or well-connected. As Congressman Connolly’s Chief of Staff, he helped to pass the Affordable Care Act, extending coverage to millions of Americas. During Trump’s first term, he helped Connolly beat back Trump’s repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is an assault on the rules-based international order that keeps America and our allies safe. As Chief of Staff to Congressman Gerry Connolly, James Walkinshaw worked alongside him to build bipartisan support for democratic allies and helped lay the groundwork for future aid efforts to nations like Ukraine. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Congress has provided more than $180 billion in military, humanitarian, and economic support to help Ukraine defend its sovereignty.