Dead Congressman’s social media endorsement sparks political buzz in Virginia

The political landscape in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District was jolted Tuesday when the social media accounts of the late Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) unexpectedly sprang back to life. The posts, which appeared on both X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, urged voters to support Connolly’s former chief of staff, James Walkinshaw, in the upcoming Democratic primary to fill Connolly’s seat—a move that left many observers stunned and reignited debate over digital campaign ethics.

Connolly, who passed away in May, had endorsed Walkinshaw prior to his death. Since then, his name and legacy have become central to Walkinshaw’s campaign. The congressman’s campaign website now prominently features a photo of Connolly with Walkinshaw and a heartfelt endorsement letter written before Connolly’s passing. Fundraising emails from Connolly’s campaign have continued to promote Walkinshaw, directing supporters to his ActBlue donation page.

The revived social media posts announced, “Early voting starts TODAY in VA-11,” and reiterated Connolly’s endorsement, urging voters to “honor that legacy and vote for bold leadership that’ll fight for us every day.” The posts linked directly to Walkinshaw’s campaign website and echoed the messaging found on Connolly’s official site.

Walkinshaw is one of ten Democrats competing in the June 28 primary, but he enters the race as the clear frontrunner. An internal poll released by his campaign shows him with 41% support, far ahead of his nearest rivals, state Sen. Stella Pekarsky (8%) and state Del. Irene Shin (6%). Walkinshaw’s campaign has also garnered overwhelming backing from the Virginia Democratic establishment, including endorsements from Rep. Don Beyer, former Rep. Jennifer Wexton, and dozens of state legislators.

Despite the strong local support and Connolly’s endorsement, House Democrats chose not to honor Connolly’s wishes when selecting a new ranking member for the Oversight Committee. Instead, Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) won the position in a landslide over Connolly’s preferred successor, Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Va.).

This incident is not the first time this year that a deceased House Democrat’s social media has been used posthumously to influence a campaign, raising questions about digital legacy and campaign conduct in the modern political era.