'Full of pride': Virginia Democrat Gerry Connolly announces retirement as cancer returns

WASHINGTON - Virginia Democrat Rep. Gerry Connolly announced connected Monday helium volition not question reelection successful 2026 and volition measurement backmost from his relation connected the almighty House Oversight Committee aft learning his esophageal crab has returned.

Connolly, 75, announced his diagnosis successful November past twelvemonth and said helium volition acquisition chemotherapy and immunotherapy. But successful a station connected X, Connolly wrote that the cancer, “while initially beaten back, has present returned.”

“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 added successful his post. “My loving household and unit prolong me. My extended household - you each person been a joyousness to serve.”

Connolly is serving his ninth word successful Congress representing Virginia’s 11th legislature district, which covers Fairfax County. He has led efforts to amended U.S. postal work operations, put successful metro railway systems astir bluish Virginia and fortify the national workforce.

In December past year, helium secured a spot to beryllium a ranking subordinate of the House Committee connected Oversight and Government Reform, which has the authorization to analyse subjects and clasp the national authorities accountable. He bushed progressive firebrand New York Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for the position, exposing the generational rift wrong the party.

With Connolly stepping aside, Massachusetts Democrat Rep. Stephen Lynch said helium would question the position, according to Politico. It is unclear whether Ocasio-Cortez volition propulsion her chapeau successful the ringing for the relation again.

Virginia Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine said successful a connection helium spoke with Connolly connected Monday greeting and expressed his “profound admiration” for Connolly’s service.

“For decades, my person Gerry Connolly has shown Virginia and the state however to combat for what is right,” helium said. “No 1 has fought harder erstwhile it comes to Virginia’s national workforce, proscription infrastructure, legislature oversight, and our committedness to captious alliances similar NATO. I’m profoundly moved by the mode helium has brought that aforesaid courageousness to his combat against cancer, and volition bash each I tin to enactment him and his family.”

This nonfiction primitively appeared connected USA TODAY: Virginia Democrat Gerry Connolly to discontinue aft crab returns