Washington’s political landscape shifted Monday when Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, a Virginia Democrat who’s been a bulldog on the House Oversight Committee, announced he’s stepping down from his leadership role and won’t run for reelection in 2026. The 75-year-old, who’s represented Virginia’s 11th District since 2009, cited a gut-punch health setback: his esophageal cancer, first revealed last November, has returned after a brutal round of treatments.
Connolly broke the news in an open letter to constituents, his words carrying the weight of a man who’s spent three decades in public service. He described the “grueling” chemotherapy and immunotherapy that initially pushed the cancer back, only for it to roar back. “The sun is setting on my time in public service,” he wrote, signaling this term—his ninth—will be his last. He plans to relinquish his post as the committee’s ranking Democrat “soon,” though he didn’t pin down a date.
A Fairfax County native in spirit, if not by birth, Connolly’s career is a tapestry of local and national fights. Before Congress, he served as a Fairfax County supervisor, chairing the board from 2003 to 2008, wrangling a $4.5 billion budget and steering projects like the Silver Line Metro extension to Dulles Airport. On Capitol Hill, he’s been a fierce advocate for federal workers, especially in his district, a hub for government employees. As Oversight’s top Democrat, a role he clinched in December 2024 after fending off a challenge from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Connolly led the charge against Trump administration moves, from blasting mass firings of inspectors general to exposing whistleblower tips about privacy-violating data projects.
His departure opens a void. Connolly’s been a seasoned hand, navigating the committee’s investigative muscle with a sharp eye for detail. He co-sponsored laws like the 2014 Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act, pushing for smarter tech spending, and introduced bills in 2025 to bolster oversight of federal software and protect inspectors general. His exit could spark a scramble among Democrats, with names like Rep. Stephen Lynch already floated as a possible stand-in.
Colleagues across the aisle sent tributes. House Oversight Chair James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, called Connolly a “steadfast public servant” who served with “honor and integrity.” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries praised his relentless defense of civil servants. Maryland’s Rep. Jamie Raskin, a cancer survivor and former Oversight ranking member, lauded Connolly’s “fierce bravery and grit.”
Connolly’s health battle hasn’t dulled his resolve to finish strong. He vowed to “do everything possible” to complete his term, leaning on family and staff for support. His district, spanning Fairfax County and Fairfax City, has trended solidly blue, but his retirement could reshape local races.
Born in Boston in 1950, Connolly earned a bachelor’s from Maryknoll College and a master’s from Harvard’s Kennedy School. He worked a decade on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee before diving into Northern Virginia politics. He and his wife, Cathy, have lived in Mantua since 1979. His announcement came on April 28, 2025.