Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) has died at the age of 75 following a battle with esophageal cancer, his family announced in a statement shared on his X account Wednesday (May 21).
"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 his family," the statement reads.
Connolly previously served as the top Democrat on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform until late April, at which point he resigned after his esophageal cancer returned. The tenured congressman was elected to the role in December, even after announcing his diagnosis one month prior, defeating Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).
Connolly was initially elected to Congress in 2008, replacing retiring Republican incumbent Tom Davis, in Virginia's 11th district, which includes the majority of the Fairfax County suburbs and the entirety of Fairfax City. The House Rules Committee paused its meeting on President Donald Trump's massive tax bill to honor Connolly with a moment of silence called on by Committee Chair Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), “To stop and say a prayer for his family, please take some time."
Connolly's throat cancer diagnosis came as a surprise as he previously showed now symptoms.
“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,” said Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) 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,” he added.