Virginia Democratic Congressman Gerry Connolly died Wednesday morning at age 75 following a months-long battle with esophageal cancer, his family announced.
“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,” they said in a statement.
Connolly, who represented Virginia’s 11th District encompassing the northern Virginia suburbs outside Washington D.C., had announced his diagnosis more than six months ago. In late April, he stepped back from his leadership roles in Congress after revealing his cancer had returned, though he never formally relinquished his position as ranking member of the House Oversight Committee.
“Gerry lived his life to give back to others and make our community better. He looked out for the disadvantaged and voiceless. He always stood up for what is right and just,” his family said. “He was a skilled statesman on the international stage, an accomplished legislator in Congress, a visionary executive on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, a fierce defender of democracy, an environmental champion, and a mentor to so many.”
Like many politicians, Connolly was tenured for a long time in Washington, D.C. He was serving his ninth term in Congress, having first been elected in 2009. Prior to his congressional career, he worked as a Senate Foreign Relations Committee staffer and served as a local legislator in Northern Virginia throughout the 1990s and 2000s.
For over a decade, Connolly chaired the U.S. Delegation of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, twice serving as president of the body. His foreign policy expertise was widely respected across party lines.
Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, mourned Connolly’s passing in a statement Wednesday.
“Gerry was a devoted public servant who spent over three decades serving the people of Virginia and our nation with unmatched dedication and purpose,” Turner said. “Gerry’s legacy is one of intellect, integrity, and relentless dedication to the people of Virginia’s 11th District and to our allies abroad.”
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., who had known Connolly for more than 35 years, described him as 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. He met every challenge with tenacity and purpose, including his final battle with cancer, which he faced with courage, grace, and quiet dignity.”
Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., paused a House Rules Committee meeting for a moment of prayer upon learning of Connolly’s death.
Connolly’s death marks the third for House Democrats in recent months, following Rep. Sylvester Turner of Texas, who died suddenly in March at 70, and Rep. Raúl Grijalva of Arizona, who died from cancer the same month.
Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., had been serving as interim ranking member on the Oversight Committee during Connolly’s illness. Connolly had first run for the ranking member position in 2022, losing to Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., before winning the role when Raskin moved to the Judiciary Committee, defeating Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.
Connolly won his latest term by defeating Republican Mike Van Meter, a Navy veteran and former FBI agent. He had announced he would not seek re-election following his cancer’s return.
“We were fortunate to share Gerry with Northern Virginia for nearly 40 years because that was his joy, his purpose, and his passion,” his family said in their statement.