This story was reported and written by our media partner the Virginia Mercury.
U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., has died, after an extended battle with cancer that weeks ago prompted him to not seek reelection to Congress. He was 75 and “passed away peacefully at his home” Wednesday morning, according to a statement from his family.
Connolly was elected to Congress in 2008, representing Virginia’s 11th District, anchored in Fairfax County. He had previously served on the Fairfax Board of Supervisors from 1995 to 2008, spending the last five years of his term as chairman. He leaves a 30-plus-year legacy as an advocate of progressive legislation, and served as ranking member of the U.S. House Oversight Committee until weeks before his death.
Democratic Party of Virginia Chairman Lamont Bagby joined a chorus of state and federal lawmakers expressing condolences over Connolly’s death Wednesday morning.
“Congressman Gerry Connolly embodied what it means to be a public servant. Over decades of leadership — first as Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and then as a Congressman for 16 years — he demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the people of Fairfax County, Northern Virginia, and beyond,” Bagby wrote.
U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner, D-Va., said in a statement he was “heartbroken” over Connolly’s death.
“I’ve known Gerry for more than 35 years. To me, he exemplified the very best of public service. Just this past Sunday, I was honored to join his wife Smitty, daughter Caitlin, and the Fairfax community in celebrating his decades of service. While Gerry couldn’t be there in person, his presence was felt throughout the room. He was there in spirit, as he always is when people come together in the name of service and progress.”
Despite his declining health, in his last months Connolly pushed to maximize public access to information that impacts the average American’s life.
Less than a month ago, Connolly sharply questioned the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after thousands of the public health agency’s staff was terminated, including the entirety of personnel responsible for responding to Freedom of Information Act requests. The layoffs were part of President Donald Trump’s administration’s massive slate of federal spending cuts, facilitated by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
“The elimination of staff responsible for facilitating FOIA strongly implies an effort by the Administration to prevent the public from obtaining information about their government that they are entitled to request. I urge you to provide detailed information responsive to the requests included in this letter to bring transparency to the FOIA operations within the CDC,” Connolly wrote.
U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-Va., who represents the state’s 4th District, called Connolly a “servant leader” who “fought for pragmatic policies that would improve the lives of his constituents.”
“Throughout my time in elected office, Gerry has been a defining and passionate voice in Virginia politics. I am grateful to have been able to call him a friend, mentor, and colleague. I will always treasure our talks on the House floor and will miss him greatly,” McClellan wrote in a statement.
Connolly’s time in federal office was defined by his focus on government reform, technology and international affairs. He served as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation in previous years, helping to craft legislation on cyber security, digital privacy and government-wide federal information technology management and innovation.
Many of the political leaders commenting on Connolly’s death Wednesday said although his federal service and policies helped improve public life nationwide, his service to the state of Virginia remains preeminent in his legacy.
“From transforming Northern Virginia’s transportation infrastructure – making transit more accessible for all – to shaping America’s role on the global stage, Gerry’s legacy reaches from local neighborhoods to the halls of Congress and across the world,” Virginia House Speaker Don Scott wrote in a statement. “It is with profound sadness that I mourn the passing of one of Virginia’s most dedicated public servants.”
Connolly, who lived in Fairfax, is survived by his wife Smitty and daughter Caitlin.
