The social-media account of the late U.S. Representative Gerry Connolly issued a post on 24 June urging voters in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District to back his former chief of staff, James Walkinshaw, in next week’s Democratic nominating contest. Connolly died in May, but the X account bearing his name remains active; its profile states that all messages are published with the consent of the Connolly family. It is unclear who authored Tuesday’s endorsement. Walkinshaw, now a Fairfax County supervisor, is one of ten Democrats competing in a party-run “firehouse” primary on 28 June to determine the party’s nominee to succeed Connolly. Early in-person voting opened the same day the post appeared and continues through 28 June. Because the Northern Virginia district leans heavily Democratic, the primary winner is expected to be favored in the 9 September special election that will fill the vacant House seat. The unusual post-mortem endorsement has drawn criticism from some political opponents but has also highlighted Connolly’s earlier public support for Walkinshaw before his death.