Virginia voters on Tuesday are set to choose their congressional candidate to succeed the late U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly, filling a vacant seat to represent a deep-blue, Washington-area suburb in a closely divided House.

In a special election in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, home to more than 700,000 people, Democrat James Walkinshaw will go up against Republican Stewart Whitson.

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Republicans only have a razor-thin edge in the House of Representatives, and the contest’s results in what is seen as a reliably Democratic district could be critical ahead of looming spending battles that may result in a government shutdown.

The special election could also serve as an indicator of how voters in Fairfax County, ho

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