‘The sun is setting on my time in public service’: Veteran Virginia Congressman Gerry Connolly dies at 75 after battle with cancer

Gerry Connolly, a Democratic congressman representing Northern Virginia, died on Wednesday at the age of 75. His family announced his passing through a statement from his congressional office, noting that his public service had been his joy, purpose, and passion for nearly 40 years. The Virginia Democrat was known for his strong advocacy for federal workers, who made up a significant portion of his constituency.

Connolly had revealed in April 2025 that he would not seek reelection in 2026 and would step down from his position as the ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform due to the return of his esophageal cancer. At that time, as reported by Politico, he told his constituents, “The sun is setting on my time in public service, and this will be my last term in Congress,” adding that they had been “a joy to serve.” He had initially disclosed his cancer diagnosis in November 2024.

According to Politico, A former chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Connolly had established himself as a staunch defender of government employees, particularly during the Trump administrations. He was outspoken in his criticism of policies he believed undermined the federal workforce. Beyond domestic issues, Connolly maintained a strong interest in foreign affairs, drawing on his experience as a former staffer on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations from 1979 to 1989. In 2024, he was elected acting president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. 

A career marked by public service and electoral success

Gerald Edward Connolly was born on March 30, 1950, in Boston. His early political interests were influenced by his father, a Boston Democratic ward committeeman and delegate to the 1962 state convention that nominated Ted Kennedy to the U.S. Senate. Connolly initially considered pursuing the priesthood but later changed direction, studying literature at Maryknoll College in Illinois before attending Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

Connolly’s political career began with his election to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in 1995. He later became chair of the board in 2003 before winning an open House seat in 2008, defeating Republican Keith Fimian. The 2010 rematch against Fimian proved to be one of the closest races nationally, but Connolly prevailed despite the Republican wave that year. Despite being strongly partisan in his positions, Connolly earned respect from colleagues across the aisle for his legislative abilities.

In December 2024, following Trump’s reelection, Connolly was chosen by fellow House Democrats to lead them on the Oversight Committee. He was praised by both Democrats and Republicans for his approach to legislation, with Oversight Committee Chair James Comer describing him as “a role model for what a good member of Congress should be.” Throughout his career, Connolly advocated for civility in politics, once advising new lawmakers that “civility and humor are all too often in short supply, but they have more positive staying powers.” Embracing Teddy Roosevelt’s philosophy, Connolly believed in “always being in the arena, not being one of those timid souls on the sidelines,” a principle that guided his decades of public service.