Continuing Connolly’s Legacy and Engaging Mason Students in the 2025 Election
By: Saahiti Kiran Chamala, Mason Votes Managing Editor
Democratic Rep. Walkinshaw (VA-11) spoke with Mason Votes over Zoom on October 31st.
On Friday, October 31st, Saahiti Kiran Chamala, Managing Editor for Mason Votes, conducted an interview with U.S. Representative James Walkinshaw (VA-11), whose district includes Mason’s Fairfax campus. Walkinshaw was elected to Congress in a special election this September following the passing of longtime Congressman Gerry Connolly.
During the discussion, Congressman Walkinshaw reflected on his connection to George Mason University, his priorities for Northern Virginia, and the importance of student engagement ahead of the upcoming gubernatorial election.
When asked about how his role in Congress intersects with the priorities of Mason students, Walkinshaw emphasized his long-standing connection to the university. “I’ve represented George Mason for the last six years now on the Board of Supervisors and now in Congress. So I spent a lot of time on campus, a lot of time working with the leadership and administration of the university, but also a lot of time with the students,” he said.
He added that his goal is to continue Congressman Connolly’s efforts in strengthening Mason’s role within the district. “In this new role, I want to build on that work and build on that partnership and continue to engage regularly with students, faculty, administration, to make sure that I’m doing everything I can in Congress to ensure that Mason continues to thrive and grow and succeed.”
Discussing current student concerns, Walkinshaw pointed to the economy as a central issue. “Our regional economy, a national economy, obviously here in Northern Virginia, the first 10 months of the Trump administration have created a lot of economic challenges. The unemployment rate in Fairfax is the highest it’s been since we were coming out of COVID,” he said. He noted that his focus is on protecting jobs and pushing back against federal policies that harm local economies. “A lot of my focus now is on pushing back against those policies that are coming out of the White House… trying to use my role to speak out against them, to support lawsuits against them when they’re illegally firing federal workers… I think the most important thing that a member of Congress can do is fight for the community that they represent.”
Walkinshaw also reflected on what he’s hearing from young voters across his district. “Concern about the Trump administration’s policies are number one — policies related to the economy and jobs… cuts to healthcare that are going to drive up costs for families, including students, immigration policies and deportation efforts… and what I view as a concerted attack on universities, including on George Mason University, from the Department of Education,” he said.
Having served as former Rep. Connolly’s chief of staff for over a decade, Walkinshaw spoke about continuing his predecessor’s dedication to the region. “I had the opportunity to serve as Congressman Connolly’s chief of staff for 11 years… I saw the way that he put his entire mind, body, and soul into serving and representing this community, including George Mason University, and I’m working very hard to take exactly the same approach.”
On the topic of housing, Walkinshaw highlighted his past and ongoing efforts to address affordability. “Housing affordability [is] a really critical issue in our region and in Fairfax… I led an effort to build a new community of affordable homes in front of the main Fairfax County Government Center that’ll have 279 new units with child care on the ground floor,” he said. He also discussed his support for federal housing reform. “There’s bipartisan legislation in Congress called the Road to Housing Act that I’m supporting… It creates an innovation fund for local governments… and streamlines a lot of the red tape and bureaucracy that prevents new housing units from being built.”
Walkinshaw expressed hope for bipartisan collaboration to protect federal workers, many of whom live or work near Mason. “One of the things I’m working on is establishing a federal workforce caucus in Congress which will be a group of members of congress who are committed to working productively to support federal workers and support making the federal government more effective and efficient.”
He reminded students of the importance of voting in every election, not just presidential ones. “It’s actually the local government and the state government who most impact your day-to-day lives… The state government obviously, very tangibly, you know, has a role in providing state support and funding for universities like George Mason, and when they provide less funding from the state it generally means tuition has to go up,” he said. “When an election has lower turnout and you vote, your vote kind of counts even more… You can have an outsized impact.”
When asked how students can remain engaged after Election Day, Walkinshaw encouraged them to take initiative. “It’s really important for young people and students to engage with their elected officials… Elected officials are always generally excited to hear from young people and get their perspectives… Know your power.” He also offered practical advice for those hoping to start in public service. “Reach out to your local government officials… One of the things I tried very hard to do with somewhat limited success… was to recruit George Mason students to serve on the various Fairfax County boards, authorities, and commissions… They’re always looking for younger folks who are interested in getting engaged in that way.”
As the interview wrapped up, Walkinshaw reaffirmed his connection to the Mason community. “I’m honored to represent George Mason and the entire Mason community and look forward to engaging with the Mason community for many years to come. I live right up the road, so the campus and the Mason community are an important part of my life and my family’s life, and I look forward to deepening the relationship.”
_____________________________________________________________
Zoom Interview Screenshot by: Saahiti Kiran Chamala