Democratic Virginia congressman Gerry Connolly dies aged 75

Gerry Connolly, a Democratic congressman from Virginia who previously served as the top Democrat on the House of Representatives’ key oversight committee, died on Wednesday, according to an announcement from his family.

Connolly, who was 75, had served in Congress since 2009.

“Gerry lived his life to give back to others and make our community better,” his family said in a statement posted on social media.

“He looked out for the disadvantaged and voiceless. He always stood up for what is right and just. 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.”

Connolly announced in November 2024, before he was re-elected, that he was battling esophageal cancer. He stepped down from his role as ranking member on the high-profile committee in late April, saying his cancer, which he said was “initially beaten back”, had returned. He announced then that he would not be running for re-election.

He had sought the oversight role in December 2024, beating out Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive New York congresswoman. Some Democrats were critical of Connolly’s committee election, which came at a time when other senior committee members were in effect pressured to step aside in favor of younger representatives amid calls for a generational shift.

He is one of three Democratic congresspeople to have died in office in the last three months, following Raúl Grijalva and Sylvester Turner.