He once worked for Gerry Connolly. Now he hopes to carry on his legacy

James R. Walkinshaw picked the rich blue shade on his office walls 16 years ago, but on behalf of his then-boss, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly.

Walkinshaw, who worked as the Virginia Democrat’s chief of staff for more than a decade, returned to Congress earlier this month as a member. He won a special election to finish Connolly’s unexpired term after the longtime lawmaker died in May .

His office is filled with reminders of his time with Connolly: the furniture, which looks the same, he says. A large planter pot gifted from New York Rep. Paul Tonko, who was in Connolly’s freshman class. A set of coasters emblazoned with the U.S. House of Representatives seal, first purchased from the gift shop during Connolly’s first term and now incomplete after someone nabbed a few during a meeting year