Five months after announcing his esophageal cancer diagnosis, Virginia Rep. Gerald E. Connolly said Monday that he won’t seek a 10th term and also plans to step down as the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
“The sun is setting on my time in public service,’’ Connolly, 75, said in a message to his constituents in Virginia’s 11th District. “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.”
Connolly said he had been undergoing “grueling treatment … but the cancer, while initially beaten back, has now returned.” He initially disclosed his diagnosis two days after the 2024 election. At the time, he pledged transparency regarding his treatment and prognosis.
