By OLIVIA DIAZ, Related Press/Report for America
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Gerald “Gerry” Connolly, an outspoken Democrat who sought key reforms within the federal authorities whereas bringing transformational growth to his populous Virginia district, died Wednesday. He was 75.
Connolly, who most just lately held a distinguished place because the rating member of the Home Oversight Committee, served in Congress for greater than 16 years.
He died at residence within the firm of members of the family, his household mentioned in an announcement. Connolly introduced in 2024 that he had esophageal most cancers and mentioned a number of months later that he deliberate to retire from Congress. His dying leaves Home Republicans with a 220-212 majority.
The spirited and at occasions bullheaded Fairfax Democrat turned identified for his voluble nature and willingness to interact in spirited debates. In one listening to, he accused Republicans of participating in a witch hunt in opposition to the IRS, asking a witness in the event that they ever learn Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible.”
FILE – Rating member Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-Va., speaks throughout a committee on Home Administration Oversight Subcommittee and Home Committee on Oversight and Accountability Cybersecurity, Data Expertise, and Authorities Innovation Subcommittee joint listening to, April 19, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Connolly, a Democratic congressman and fixture of Virginia politics, has died at age 75. (AP Picture/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)
“I am heartbroken over the loss of my dear friend,” mentioned Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia. “To me, he exemplified the very best of public service.” He mentioned Connolly “met every challenge with tenacity and purpose, including his final battle with cancer, which he faced with courage, grace, and quiet dignity.”
A fixture of Virginia politics for 3 a long time, Connolly was first elected to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in 1995. On the county board, he steered the transition of northern Virginia’s Tysons Nook from a traffic-heavy mall space to a downtown enterprise hub.
In 2003, Connolly was elected board chairman, and he continued pushing for transportation funding that had been debated amongst officers for many years. Connolly sought billions in state and federal {dollars} to develop the regional rail system’s Silver Line connecting the nationwide capital area to Tysons Nook.
Connolly’s dream was realized with the Silver Line’s opening in 2014, and eight years later, the rail line was prolonged an additional 11 miles (18 kilometers) to succeed in Dulles Worldwide Airport.
Because the extension opened in 2022, Connolly mentioned: “Doing big things is difficult — the world is filled with naysayers.”
Connolly’s native authorities expertise launched his congressional profession. He was elected in 2008 after flipping an open Republican-held seat by almost 42,000 votes. In his victory speech, Connolly mentioned he would use his place to make sure the federal forms is “a responsive, accountable instrument for the people we serve.”
“If we insist the government must work for all of our citizens again, we cannot fail,” Connolly mentioned.
Connolly received his first style of Congress whereas working as a staffer for the Senate Committee on Overseas Relations within the Eighties. A long time later, Connolly turned a member of the Home Committee on Overseas Affairs.
He additionally served as a member of the Home Oversight Committee and led Democrats on subcommittees on authorities innovation and knowledge expertise.
Connolly cosponsored the 2010 Telework Enhancement Act, which requires federal companies to permit a portion of their staff to telework at the very least in the future per week. In 2014, he cosponsored one other invoice that reformed federal IT administration and has since saved the federal government billions of {dollars}, based on the Authorities Accountability Workplace.
He additionally intently adopted the monetary burden of the slowing U.S. Postal Service, changing into a distinguished voice accusing President Donald Trump and former Postmaster Basic Louis DeJoy of searching for to winnow the postal service to suppress mail-in ballots throughout the 2020 presidential election.
Connolly reached a brand new milestone late final yr as he was chosen rating member of the Home Oversight Committee. He defeated Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for the place. The victory got here shortly after Connolly introduced late final yr that he had been recognized with esophageal most cancers and would bear chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
As rating member, Connolly known as on inspectors basic to analyze the Division of Authorities Effectivity. He and different Democrats additionally launched a pair of resolutions demanding the Trump administration flip over paperwork and details about billionaire adviser Elon Musk’s potential conflicts of curiosity and the firings of federal staff.
He mentioned in late April that after “grueling treatments,” he realized that the most cancers had returned and that he determined to step down from his put up on the committee and wouldn’t search reelection.
“With no rancor and a full heart, I move into this final chapter full of pride in what we’ve accomplished together over 30 years,” he mentioned.
Initially Revealed: Might 21, 2025 at 9:18 AM EDT
