Gerry Connolly, the Democratic Virginia congressman who served in Congress since 2009, has died aged 75, his family announced. In a statement shared on social media, Connolly’s family said that he died at home “peacefully” Wednesday morning surrounded by family. “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,” the statement said, adding he was a “fierce defender of democracy, an environmental champion, and a mentor to so many.” Connolly is now the third sitting Democratic congressman to have died in the past three months, following Texas’ Sylvester Turner, 70, and Arizona’s Raul Grijalva, 77, in March. Connolly revealed in Nov. 2024 that he had esophageal cancer. The following month, he defeated New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to the role of ranking member of the House Oversight Committee. Connolly announced in late April that he would be stepping down as the top Democrat on the influential committee, and would not seek re-election in 2026, as the cancer which he had “initially beaten” had returned.
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