Democratic Rep. Gerald E. Connolly of Virginia has died, just weeks after announcing that his esophageal cancer had returned, his family said Wednesday morning. He was 75.
“It is with immense sadness that we share that our devoted and loving father, husband, brother, friend, and public servant, Congressman Gerald E. Connolly, passed away peacefully at his home this morning surrounded by family,” the family said in a statement.
Connolly had already announced last month that he would not seek reelection in Virginia’s 11th District, citing his cancer’s return. He also said he anticipated stepping aside from his duties as the ranking member of the House Oversight and Reform Committee. Massachusetts Rep. Stephen F. Lynch has been serving as the acting ranking Democrat on the committee.
Connolly initially disclosed an esophageal cancer diagnosis two days after the 2024 election and pledged transparency regarding his treatment and prognosis.
Connolly was a fixture in Northern Virginia politics. He became chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in 2004, nine years after his initial election to the board. He was first elected to the House in 2008, succeeding Republican Thomas M. Davis III in what was then a swing district. With the exception of a close 2010 race during the tea party wave, Connolly has since been comfortably reelected as the D.C. suburbs in Northern Virginia underwent a blue shift.
“Gerry was a fighter. His sharp mind, boundless energy, and deep commitment to the people of Northern Virginia made him a force to be reckoned with, whether on the Fairfax Board of Supervisors or in Congress,” Democratic Sen. Mark Warner, Virginia’s senior senator, said in a statement. “He met every challenge with tenacity and purpose, including his final battle with cancer, which he faced with courage, grace, and quiet dignity.”
This is a developing story and will be updated.
