Democrats scored a win in the race to replace the late Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, narrowing the Republican majority in the House of Representatives.

Fairfax County Supervisor James Walkinshaw (D) handily defeated Republican Stewart Whitson, a former FBI agent, in the heavily Democratic-leaning district on Tuesday. The race offered some insight on what to watch out for ahead the state’s gubernatorial elections in November.

Additionally, Boston held its nonpartisan mayoral primary, setting up a November showdown between incumbent Mayor Michelle Wu (D) and nonprofit executive Josh Kraft, who is the son of New England Patriots own Robert Kraft.

Here are key takeaways from Tuesday’s special elections:

House Republican majority narrows

While Walkinshaw’s victory is no surprise, it’s notable because it will impact the Republican majority in the House of Representatives. Connolly’s seat was one of three Democratic vacancies, leaving Republicans with a 219-212 majority.

Those vacancies have likely helped Republicans during crucial votes this year, including the vote to pass the GOP spending megabill, also known as President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” in May. That legislation passed by just one vote.

However,........

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