Virginia — 11th District

Despite Democrat James Walkinshaw's landslide victory Tuesday for Virginia's 11th Congressional District, one elections expert says it's the fundraising disparity in this race - not the turnout or margin of victory - that could be predictive of statewide races in November's general election.

This race was to fill the seat left vacant after .

Walkinshaw, currently a Fairfax County Board of Supervisors member and former chief of staff to Connolly, took home 75% of the vote.

"I will fight every day to lower the costs that keep families up at night. That means tackling sky-high housing costs by partnering with local governments to build millions of new homes and invest in affordable homes," Walkinshaw said at his victory party.

But Walkinshaw had an even more decisive advantage in fundraising over his opponent, Republican candidate Stewart Whitson.

Walkinshaw raised more than $1 million, a nearly five-to-one advantage over Whitson's $224,000.

Dr. , a Professor of Practice at the George Mason University Schar School of Policy and Government and former member of the Virginia House of Delegates, told 7News the lopsided fundraising and the total amount could be a sign of voter enthusiasm for the Democratic ticket come November.

"It's not necessarily the turnout that would be indicative to what we're going to see in November, but it's really the campaigns and the money for the campaigns. Enthusiasm for the campaigns that we're seeing existing now in the Walkinshaw race that is indicative of what we're going to see - and what we're seeing already - statewide," Ramadan said.

So far, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger has more than doubled Republican Winsome Earle-Sears' fundraising.

However, the money spent by donors won't be the only predictor of voter behavior, according to Ramadan.

Throughout the campaign, Walkinshaw vowed to address the recent federal job cuts.

He even went so far as to promise the first bill he plans to file would require an up-or-down vote in Congress if a president wants to make significant cuts to the federal workforce.

"Virginia has a huge force of government workers that have been let go," Ramadan said. "All of that adds up to a higher level of excitement, higher level of engagement by the voters, which some voters show by donating and others will show by showing up to the polls on Election Day."