Rep. Gerry Connolly steps down as top Oversight Democrat and won't seek reelection as cancer returns

WASHINGTON – Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia announced connected Monday helium is stepping down arsenic the apical Democrat connected the almighty House Oversight Committee and volition not beryllium seeking reelection adjacent twelvemonth owed to his crab returning, ending his agelong vocation successful nationalist life.

“The prima is mounting connected my clip successful nationalist service,” Connolly said successful a statement. “With nary rancor and a afloat heart, I determination into this last section afloat of pridefulness successful what we’ve accomplished unneurotic implicit 30 years.”

Connolly, 75, has served successful Congress since 2009 and represents bluish Virginia, including Fairfax County. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said successful a connection that Connolly has been a “relentless advocator for the unthinkable civilian servants” successful his territory during the Trump administration’s “unprecedented attacks connected national employees.”

Sen. Mark Warner, a chap Virginia Democrat, lauded Connolly for his toughness.

“Whether it’s lasting up for national workers, advocating for bully governance, oregon present confronting crab with the aforesaid resilience and grit that person defined his beingness of nationalist service, Gerry is 1 of the toughest fighters I know,” Warner said successful a statement.

Connolly announced precocious past twelvemonth that helium had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer and would acquisition chemotherapy and immunotherapy. He said that aft “grueling treatments,” helium learned that the crab has returned.

Concerns astir Connolly's wellness were a origin precocious past twelvemonth arsenic helium ran for the apical ranking presumption connected Oversight, 1 of the astir salient committees successful Congress.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., ran against Connolly for the occupation but was defeated arsenic the bulk of Democrats opted to instrumentality with the seniority system. Connolly has served connected the Oversight Committee for much than 16 years.

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This worldly whitethorn not beryllium published, broadcast, rewritten oregon redistributed without permission.