Walkinshaw, Whitson Win Virginia 11th Primary Nods

James Walkinshaw won the Democratic nomination in Virginia's 11th Congressional District special election, following an expedited primary after the death of Rep. Gerry Connolly. Walkinshaw, Connolly’s former aide, secured 60% of the vote and will face Republican Stewart Whitson, an Army veteran and former FBI official, in the September general election. In Chandigarh, India, major reforms were approved to use a show of hands instead of secret ballots for mayoral elections starting in 2026 to improve transparency. Special elections are also underway in Douglas County, Colorado, on home rule, and in Florida's Senate District 15 and House District 40 to fill legislative vacancies. These developments underscore a period of significant local and special elections in the U.S. and internationally. Efforts to reform election processes and enhance democratic accountability are ongoing in several jurisdictions.