Overview

• Rep. Gerry Connolly, 75, revealed his esophageal cancer has returned after initial treatment and announced this will be his final term in Congress.
• Connolly will step down as Ranking Member of the House Oversight Committee soon, prompting the Democratic Caucus to select a new leader within 30 days.
• He has represented Virginia's 11th District since 2008, a safely Democratic seat centered in Northern Virginia, and previously served on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
• Connolly defeated Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in December 2024 to secure his current leadership role, highlighting generational tensions within the Democratic Party.
• Colleagues from both parties praised Connolly's decades of public service, noting his advocacy for government accountability and federal IT modernization.