Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia, the senior Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, died on Wednesday morning, May 21, 2025, at his residence in Fairfax County, Virginia, at the age of 75 after a battle with esophageal cancer.
His family announced on Wednesday that Connolly, a dedicated family man and veteran public servant, passed away peacefully in his home, surrounded by his family.
Connolly disclosed his esophageal cancer diagnosis in November 2024, shortly after securing reelection for his ninth term representing Virginia’s 11th Congressional District. In April 2025, he announced the return of his cancer despite treatment and stated he would not seek reelection in 2026.
Born on March 30, 1950, in Boston, Massachusetts, Connolly obtained a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University in 1979. During the 1980s, he worked for a decade as a staff member on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, including a period with then-Senator Joe Biden of Delaware.
Connolly’s political career began in 1995 when he was elected to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in Virginia. He served 14 years on the board, including five years as chairman from 2003 to 2007. As chairman, he managed a budget of approximately $4.5 billion and oversaw what ranked as the nation’s 13th-largest city.
Upon the announcement by Republican Rep. Tom Davis that he would not seek reelection in 2008, Connolly ran for Congress and won, serving from 2009 until his death. His district included affluent suburbs outside Washington, D.C., such as Fairfax County.
In Congress, Connolly was recognized for his strong advocacy for federal workers and legislative effectiveness. He co-authored the bipartisan Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act, which became law in 2014, marking the first major overhaul of federal IT management laws since 1996. He also successfully passed the Telework Enhancement Act, which mandated increased federal telework capabilities.
On the international stage, Connolly served twice as president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, focusing on bolstering the U.S. role within NATO. He consistently voiced concerns about human rights violations and was a vocal critic of President Donald Trump’s policies.
Following the 2024 election, Connolly won a competitive race to be the ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, defeating progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York 131-84, despite having announced his cancer diagnosis a month earlier.
Connolly stated he was surprised by his cancer diagnosis as he experienced almost no symptoms. He pledged to combat the disease “the only way I know how — with Irish fight and humor.” Despite undergoing aggressive treatment including chemotherapy and immunotherapy, he announced in April that his cancer had returned.
When announcing his decision not to seek reelection, Connolly remarked, “The sun is setting on my time in public service” and asked Rep. Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts to serve as interim ranking member of the Oversight Committee.
Following his passing, the House Rules Committee paused its meeting on President Trump’s tax bill to observe a moment of silence in Connolly’s honor. Committee Chair Virginia Foxx of North Carolina requested members to take a moment to pray for his family.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries noted that even while contending with his cancer diagnosis, Connolly continued to oppose unprecedented attacks on federal workers in his district and nationwide.
Former President Biden, who worked with Connolly on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, remembered him as “a man of deep integrity, principle, and purpose” and recalled their collaboration to “pass consequential legislation, including the American Rescue Plan and efforts to prevent veteran suicide and support our nation’s first responders.”
Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, who knew Connolly for over 35 years, described him as a dedicated fighter with a keen intellect, boundless energy, and a strong commitment to the people of Northern Virginia, making him a formidable force both on the Fairfax Board of Supervisors and in Congress.
Connolly is the third House Democrat to die in office since March 2025, following Reps. Sylvester Turner of Texas and Raul Grijalva of Arizona. His passing results in a 220-212 Republican majority in the House.
According to Virginia state law, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin must call a special election to fill the vacant seat. Democrats also need to appoint a new ranking member for the Oversight Committee, with several members, including Lynch, Kweisi Mfume, Jasmine Crockett, and Robert Garcia, reportedly interested in the role.
Connolly is survived by his wife, Cathy, and daughter, Caitlin. His family described him as “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 many.”