In shocking news for the Democrat Party, top Democrat Congressman Gerry Connolly, who held a key position on the House Oversight Committee, died at age 75 after battling esophageal cancer.
See the tweet below.
His passing shifts House control further into Republican hands, widening their majority to 220-212 and setting up yet another potentially contentious special election.
Connolly, who represented Northern Virginia’s federal worker-heavy district since 2008, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family members.
His death marks the third House Democrat to die in office in just the past three months, further eroding Democrats’ position in the chamber heading into a critical election year.
The congressman’s death will trigger a special election that Virginia’s Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin must schedule.
This creates another opportunity for Republicans to flip a seat in what was considered a reliably blue district, though the timing and political landscape remain unclear.
Prior to his death, Connolly had recently defeated progressive firebrand Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) for the top Democrat position on the House Oversight Committee, signaling the party’s preference for his more moderate approach.
However, as his health deteriorated, he had asked Representative Stephen Lynch (D-MA) to step in as interim leader of the committee’s Democrats.
Connolly was diagnosed with throat cancer in November and underwent chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments. Despite these challenges, he continued his legislative work.
His final effort was co-sponsoring the Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act alongside Republican Congressman James Comer (R-KY), which showcased his willingness to work across party lines even in his final days.
The race to permanently replace Connolly on the Oversight Committee is expected to be contested, though Ocasio-Cortez has already announced she will not seek the position.
Potential candidates include experienced members like Stephen Lynch and younger representatives such as Robert Garcia (D-CA) and Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), potentially setting up an establishment versus progressive battle for this influential position.
Although a Democrat who frequently clashed with Republicans, Connolly had built friendships across party lines during his 15 years in Congress.
The House Rules Committee paused proceedings to honor him with a moment of silence upon learning of his death, with Committee Chair Virginia Foxx, a North Carolina Republican, urging members to “stop and say a prayer for his family.”
Connolly’s legacy in Northern Virginia includes local projects like the Silver Line metro extension, Oakton Library, Mosaic District, and Cross County Trail.
In April, recognizing the seriousness of his condition, he had announced he would not seek re-election in 2026, though few expected his health to deteriorate so rapidly.
— Rep. Gerry Connolly (@GerryConnolly) May 21, 2025
