In a major victory for House Republicans, Rep. Gerry Connolly, the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, announced that he will not be seeking reelection in light of recent unfortunate changes in his health, which led both Democrats and Republicans in the House and beyond to extend their well wishes to the representative.
For context, Rep. Jerry Connolly (D-A) announced on April 28, 2025, that, sadly, his esophageal cancer — which was diagnosed six months before — had returned, and he was planning to step down from his role as Ranking Member of the Oversight Committee “soon.” Furthermore, the representative said that he had “no rancor” about his decision and was proud of his accomplishments.
In his post, Rep. Connolly thanked his constituents for their “good wishes and compassion as I continue to tackle my diagnosis.” He added, “Your outpouring of love and support has given me strength in my fights — both against cancer and in our collective defense of democracy.” Moreover, the congressman said, “After grueling treatments, we’ve learned that the cancer, while initially beaten back, has now returned.”
Continuing, the congressman said he would do “everything possible to continue to represent” his constituents, adding, “Thank you for your grace.” He went on to say, “The sun is setting on my public service, and this will be my last term in Congress. I will be stepping back as Ranking Member of the Oversight Committee soon.”
In addition, Rep. Connoly said that he was leaving his role “with no rancor and a full heart,” adding, “I move into this final chapter full of pride in what we’ve accomplished together over 30 years.” He concluded, “My loving family and staff sustain me. My extended family — you have been a joy to serve.”
When Rep. Connoly announced his retirement online, X commenters had mixed reactions. Some were supportive, like the user Lucas Sanders, who wrote, “Thank you for your time in Congress. Thank you for passing the torch. Get well soon.” Likewise, Steven Law of the Institute of Politics and Pubic Service wrote, “Prayers for you and your family from across the aisle. May God be with you all in the valley.”
However, many other commenters had negative responses to Rep. Connolly’s announcement. The most-liked comment on his post came from a user with the handle Raquel, who wrote, “Lol, what a joke.” Another commenter wrote, “Gerry Connolly retiring because of health problems??? Omg who could have seen this coming?” In a more polite but critical comment, the X user StarsNScoop wrote, “I absolutely disagree with you on pretty much everything, but I wish you well in your fight.”
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According to PBS, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said that Connolly has been a “relentless advocate for the incredible civil servants” responding to what was described as the Trump Administration’s “unprecedented attacks on federal employees.” On the other side of the aisle, Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) also showed his support, describing Connolly as “a steadfast public servant who has spent his career serving Northern Virginians with honor and integrity.”
Featured Image Credit: Rep. Gerry Connolly via X