James Walkinshaw

Responsibility can weigh heavily on a House lawmaker. As one of only 435 members, being a true representative also means being a workhorse.

Enter—or should I say, re-enter—James Walkinshaw. You see, it's a job he was already very familiar with.

"What's it like for you to go from being the former chief of staff in this very office to now sitting behind the desk?" Scott asked.

"95% of the time I don't think about it because I'm going about my day and accomplishing the things I need to—or trying to. But five percent of the time I sit down and say, 'Wow...this is quite an experience, quite an opportunity to serve my community. '" Walkinshaw replied.

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Walkinshaw was once chief of staff to longtime Congressman Gerry Connolly, who died from cancer last May. Now representing Northern Virginia's 11th District, Walkinshaw says his mentor's example drives him.

"I remind myself he's somebody who served our community with every fiber of his being—his mind, body and soul—literally until his last day. And I remind myself that's the standard I have to meet."

He's already had his first sponsored bill pass the House—the Illicit Fentanyl Trafficking Act—which pushes the Department of Homeland Security to better coordinate efforts to combat fentanyl, especially across the D.C., Maryland and Virginia region.

"Our region last year—the D.C. metropolitan region, D.C., Maryland and Virginia—we had a thousand fentanyl overdose deaths. It's still the leading cause of drug overdose deaths, and we need the federal government, the Department of Homeland Security, operating at the highest possible level to keep fentanyl out of our communities."

There have also been tributes to his former boss, including helping pass the Gerry Connolly Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act to promote testing and early treatment, and legislation naming a Fairfax post office after Connolly, who helped put the Postal Service on stronger financial footing.

Measures like those passed easily.

Not much else does these days.

"I know you said you're an optimist, but do you see an actual reason to tell folks back home, 'Don't worry, there are enough people behind the scenes still getting things done for the American people?' Because it doesn't always feel that way,” Scott asked.

"The bipartisanship that happens now in Congress is really only on those issues that are behind the radar. The big headline-grabbing issues that get a lot of attention on cable news or social media—it's very hard to do bipartisan work there," he answered.

"Really divided?"

"Very divided."

Walkinshaw knows finding unity in these halls may be his greatest challenge in today's political climate.

His motivation, he says, is simple. He's an optimist who believes voters—not the vitriol—will ultimately win out if more members keep their focus on the people they represent.

"We can find common ground. At the end of the day, we all still have to live here in this country. We all have to find a way to make it work despite our differences."

Despite being in his first term, Walkinshaw is determined to make a significant impact. Serving on the influential House Oversight Committee, he says he's also focused on issues that matter back home—from cybersecurity to ensuring federal workers can do their jobs free from political interference.