Virginia Democratic Congressman Gerry Connolly has died following a battle with cancer.
He was 75.
The family of Connolly released a statement Wednesday morning saying he “passed away peacefully at his home this morning surrounded by family.”
The Boston, Mass., native eventually settled in northern Virginia, serving on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors before being elected to serve Virginia’s 11th Congressional District in 2008.
Connolly announced in late April that he would not be seeking reelection and would be stepping down as a ranking member of the House Oversight Committee.
In November, the congressman announced he was battling esophageal cancer.
In the April letter to his constituents, the congressman said that when he first announced his cancer battle, he “promised transparency.” He provided a concerning update on his health.
The congressman’s family described him as a “visionary” and “fierce defender of democracy, an environmental champion, and a mentor to so many.” They say his legacy will live on “from the Silver Line to the Oakton Library, Mosaic District to the Cross Country Trail and beyond.”
They added that the congressman had called northern Virginia home for nearly 40 years and served the region with “joy,” “purpose,” and “passion.”
As of Wednesday morning, messages of condolences were pouring in across the political aisle.
Virginia Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin expressed sadness at the passing of Connolly, citing his years of public service.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Congressman Gerry Connolly. His decades of public service reflect a deep commitment to Virginia. Suzanne and I send our heartfelt prayers to his family, friends, and all who mourn his loss,” Youngkin said in a social media post.
Connolly’s passing creates the third vacancy in the House chamber. Democratic Reps. Sylvester Turner of Texas and Raul Grijalva of Arizona died March 5 and March 13, respectively. The split of the chamber is 220 Republicans, 212 Democrats and three vacancies.
