Virginia's 11th congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Situated in the Northern Virginia suburbs, the district comprises most of Fairfax County and the entirety of Fairfax City. It has been represented by Democrat James Walkinshaw since September 2025. The Hill newspaper quotes census data to conclude that Virginia's 11th district was the wealthiest congressional district in the nation from 2003 to 2013.
Location
1 explorer visited this place
The article attributed the wealth to "the presence of high-level federal workers and two-income families" and because "lobbyists and other corporate types flock to the D.C. area".
History
The district last existed in what is now West Virginia's 1st district and was held by Jacob B. Blair before the events of the U.S. Civil War. Virginia did not have an 11th district until it was re-created after the 1990 United States census from portions of the old 8th and 10th districts because of explosive growth in Northern Virginia. It was intended to be a "fair fight" district; indeed, it encompassed most of the more Democratic portions of the old 10th district and the more Republican portions of the old 8th district. George W. Bush only narrowly defeated John Kerry here in 2004, while Democratic Governor Tim Kaine and Democratic Senator Jim Webb both carried this district, in 2005 and 2006 respectively. In 2008, Barack Obama won this district over Republican Senator John McCain. As of 2025, the last time Republicans won this district was in the 2009 Virginia gubernatorial election, when Republican Bob McDonnell carried it, along with incumbent Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling in the lieutenant gubernatorial race. Democrat Leslie Byrne briefly held the seat for the first election cycle of the new district, but was quickly defeated in 1994 by Republican Tom Davis. Davis established a secure hold on the district during his tenure (1995–2008), but Democrat Gerry Connolly won it when Davis announced retirement and later resigned before his term ended. Both Davis and Connolly may have been aided by their previous service on the Board of Supervisors of Fairfax County, where most of the 11th district's population is concentrated. 96.7% of 11th congressional district residents live in Fairfax County, with the remaining 3.3% living in Fairfax City.
Composition
For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties and communities: Fairfax County (46)
Braddock (part; also 10th), Burke, Burke Centre, Centreville, Chantilly, Crosspointe, Difficult Run, Dranesville, Dunn Loring, Fairfax Station (part; also 10th), Fair Lakes, Fair Oaks, Floris, Franconia (part; also 8th), Franklin Farm, George Mason, Great Falls, Great Falls Crossing, Greenbriar, Herndon, Hutchinson, Kings Park, Kings Park West, Laurel Hill, Long Branch, Lorton, Mantua, McLean (part; also 8th), McNair, Merrifield, Navy, Newington, Newington Forest, Oakton, Ravensworth, Reston, South Run, Springfield (part; also 8th), Sully Square, Tysons, Union Mill (part; also 10th), Vienna, Wakefield, West Springfield, Wolf Trap, Woodburn Independent city (1)
Fairfax
See also
Virginia's congressional districts List of United States congressional districts 2010 Virginia's 11th congressional district election 2025 Virginia's 11th congressional district special election
References
Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present Archived April 23, 2010, at the Wayback Machine