Trump-supporting communism survivor jumps into race for late Democrat's seat

FIRST ON FOX: A subsister of Soviet Union-era communism is jumping into the contention to regenerate precocious Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va.

Karina Lipsman told Fox News Digital that her household fled the USSR erstwhile she was a kid and that her puerility successful the U.S. began with a azygous parent raising her successful low-income lodging successful Baltimore.

"We ran from socialism and toward the American dream. We came present due to the fact that America stood for freedom, hard enactment and the accidental to physique thing better," said Lipsman, a Republican.

"We didn’t talk English erstwhile we arrived. But I worked hard, kept my caput down and earned each measurement to get to wherever I americium today. I became a national astatine 18. I enactment myself done undergrad and grad school."

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Karina Lipsman is announcing connected Tuesday that she is moving successful the peculiar predetermination to regenerate precocious Rep. Gerry Connolly. (Karina Lipsman/Getty Images)

Lipsman, who presently works for the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, besides praised President Donald Trump and said she believed the state was headed successful a akin absorption to the concern her household fled.

"We person had an expanding government, a shrinking mediate people and a increasing dependence connected the state. We've been sliding distant from what made this state great," she said. "Thankfully, we person a disruptor successful Donald Trump who is warring the presumption quo, but helium needs much allies due to the fact that the governmental people is excessively focused connected fame, clicks and climbing ladders."

Lipsman is the latest campaigner to leap into the contention for Virginia's 11th Congressional District, a solidly Democratic information of the Washington, D.C., suburbs.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Tuesday that the peculiar predetermination to capable Connolly's spot volition beryllium connected Sept. 9.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced a peculiar predetermination for Sept. 9. (Kendall Warner/The Virginian-Pilot/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

The precocious Democrat, who died of esophagal crab successful precocious May, had represented the territory since 2009. Connolly had announced successful April that helium would not beryllium seeking re-election owed to his health.

Prior to Connolly, the spot was held by Republican erstwhile Rep. Tom Davis from 1995 to 2008.

Since then, however, it has shifted overmuch further left. The nonpartisan Cook Political Index rates the territory D+18, and Connolly defeated Republican challengers by much than 30 points successful each of the past 3 predetermination cycles.

Lipsman antecedently ran for the House successful Virginia's neighboring 8th Congressional District but mislaid to longtime incumbent Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va. She argued, however, that constituents were bare for "work horses" – and said she could conscionable that demand.

"We request leaders who enactment their heads down and bash the hard enactment to hole what’s broken," Lipsman said.

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Karina Lipsman besides praised President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

There is already a crowded tract of Democratic candidates successful the race, including Fairfax County supervisor James Walkinshaw – who Connolly himself endorsed earlier his death, and authorities lawmakers Stella Pekarsky and Irene Shin.

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Former Minority Business Development Agency counsellor Leopoldo Nucete, Navy seasoned Joshua Aisen and section Fairfax County authoritative Candice Bennett are besides successful the race.

Lipsman joins 2 different Republicans presently successful the race, including Mike Van Meter, who Connolly defeated successful 2024.