Gerry Connolly, Democratic Congressman From Virginia, Dies | EUROtoday

Rep. Gerry Connolly, a Democrat from Virginia, died Wednesday morning at 75.

He “passed away peacefully at his home this morning surrounded by family,” Connolly’s household stated in a press release.

In November, Connolly introduced he’d been identified with esophageal most cancers and would participate in chemotherapy and immunotherapy. In April, he introduced he would step again from his position as the highest Democrat on the House Oversight Committee and wouldn’t run for reelection as a result of the most cancers, “while initially beaten back, has now returned.”

“The sun is setting on my time in public service, and this will be my last term in Congress,” he stated in a press release.

He endorsed former chief of employees James Walkinshaw within the race to succeed him.

Connolly was elected to the highest Democratic spot on the House Oversight Committee in December, defeating Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.) in an inner election by a vote of 131-84.

Tributes poured in from colleagues from each side of the aisle.

Connolly “met every challenge with tenacity and purpose, including his final battle with cancer, which he faced with courage, grace, and quiet dignity,” stated Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.).

Rep. Jamie Raskin (Md.) shared that it was “crushingly sad to learn” of Connolly’s passing, describing his fellow Democrat as a “fierce champion of federal workers, public integrity and the people of Virginia (though he never surrendered his hearty south Boston accent).”

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) known as Connolly’s loss of life “a personal loss to me.”

“He was a good and decent man,” McCaul added. “He always conducted himself as a statesman in the finest tradition in the Halls of Congress and in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.”

Walkinshaw, a Fairfax County supervisor who labored with Connolly for years, stated the congressman was “one of the most formative figures in my life.”

“Because of him, I am a better husband, father, and public servant. I will carry his wisdom — and his fierce love for this community — with me for the rest of my life,” he stated in a press release. “We’ve lost a giant.”

Connolly represented Virginia’s eleventh District, within the Washington suburbs, since 2009. Before that, he served on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for 14 years.

“We were fortunate to share Gerry with Northern Virginia for nearly 40 years because that was his joy, his purpose, and his passion,” Connolly’s household stated Wednesday.

Connolly is the third Democratic member of Congress to have died since January, following the passing of Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva (Ariz.) and Sylvester Turner (Texas).