The special election to complete the late Democratic Rep. Gerald E. Connolly’s term will be held on Sept. 9, Virginia’s Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin said Tuesday.

Youngkin’s announcement sets off a just over three-month sprint to succeed Connolly, who died last month weeks after announcing that his esophageal cancer had returned. Connolly was in his ninth term representing Virginia’s 11th District, a safely blue suburban seat centered on the city of Fairfax, outside Washington.

The filing deadline for the September election is July 11.

Several Democrats have already announced bids for the seat. Fairfax County Supervisor James Walkinshaw, a former Connolly chief of staff, landed an endorsement from his former boss after Connolly said he would not run for reelection . Other declared

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