The article attributed the wealth to the many lobbyists and two-career couples in Northern Virginia.

In 2008, Barack Obama won this district over Republican Senator John McCain.

Democrat Leslie L. Byrne briefly held the seat for the first election cycle of the new district, but was quickly defeated in 1994 by Republican Tom Davis.

Both Davis and Connolly may have been aided by their previous service on the Board of Supervisors of Fairfax County, where most of the 11th district's population is concentrated.

[6] The results of the 2010 United States census showed this district's population continued to grow, and due to redistricting covered more urban areas in Northern Virginia to favor the incumbent, Connolly.