Virginia Congressman Gerry Connolly dies at 77

The family of Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., 77, announced the congressman’s death on Wednesday morning.

“It is with immense sadness that we share that our devoted and loving father, husband, brother, friend, and public servant, Congressman Gerald E. Connolly, passed away peacefully at his home this morning surrounded by family,” the family said in a statement.

Connolly earned a bachelor’s degree in literature in 1971 before going on to earn a master’s in business administration from the Harvard Kennedy School in 1979. He later served on the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs. After that, he spent more than a decade working with the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors before running for Congress in 2008.

Recently, Connolly served as the Democratic ranking member on the House Oversight Committee, a post he relinquished in April, citing a resurgent cancer diagnosis. He also announced this year that he would not pursue another term, ending his 17-year career on the Hill.

What does Connolly’s death mean for the House of Representatives? Connolly’s death comes as Republicans attempt to pass President Donald Trump’s budget bill through incredibly tight margins. With another Democratic absence, Republicans will have four votes to spare to pass the bill. The bill may not pass the House this week as GOP leaders hoped.

Several deaths in the Democratic caucus have made it more difficult to oppose the Republican agenda, giving U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson a little more wiggle room for dissent among his own members.

Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., and Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Texas., also have died since the beginning of the 119th Congress on Jan. 3.

“The Democratic Caucus, the Commonwealth of Virginia and the country have lost a hardworking, humble and honorable public servant with the passing of Congressman Gerry Connolly,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., wrote in a statement Wednesday morning.

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin must set the parameters for how the state will fill Connolly’s vacancy, according to Virginia law. The code does not provide a required timeline for a special election.