James Walkinshaw
Democrat
In Office
About
Meet James
James Walkinshaw was born and raised in Northern Virginia and has devoted his career to ensuring that our community remains a great place to live, work, and raise a family. During more than a decade of service as Chief of Staff to Congressman Gerry Connolly, James oversaw all aspects of the Congressman’s office and served as his chief adviser on a host of issues, working closely with state and local officials. He is currently serving his second term representing the Braddock District on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. James, his wife Yvette, and their son Mateo live in the Truro neighborhood.
Board of Supervisors
Since his election to the Board of Supervisors in 2019, James has focused on solving everyday problems for the communities he represents and making real progress on issues that matter. On the Board, he has led efforts to ban guns from libraries and rec centers, improve pay and benefits for working families, extend tax relief to seniors and military families, fight climate change, and keep our local environment clean and healthy.
Positions
Preventing Domestic Violence & Protecting Survivors
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.
Reducing Gun Violence
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.
Investing in Education
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.
Climate & Environment
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.
