Rep. Gerry Connolly, the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, will step down from his leadership post on the panel and not run for reelection.
The Virginia Democrat, whose constituency includes many federal workers, cited the return of his esophageal cancer — first diagnosed in late 2024 — as the reason for his planned departure.
“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 in a statement Monday, saying he would pull back from his ranking member position “soon.”
Connolly had beaten out Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for the top leadership position on the panel in a contest last fall that in many ways had tested the House Democratic Caucus’ appetite for generational change. Several aging committee leaders had stepped aside in the face of challenges from Democrats who promised to bring a more vigorous opposition to the Trump administration to the table, though Connolly and his allies had stressed that the veteran lawmaker had invaluable investigative experience.
Ocasio-Cortez is no longer a member of the Oversight Committee and joined Energy and Commerce this year, so she could have a difficult time mounting a comeback bid — though it’s not clear she intends to do so. Others who might step up to the plate include Reps. Ro Khanna of California and Jasmine Crockett of Texas.
According to a congressional aide granted anonymity to share private conversations, Connolly has been in communication with Rep. Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts — the second in line in seniority among Democrats behind D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton — about covering for him on the dias until a permanent replacement is elected. He has asked Lynch to begin that stint at the Wednesday markup of the panel’s portion of the GOP’s massive tax, border and energy bill.
When late-Oversight chair Elijah Cummings, a Democrat, was unable to act as chair due to health issues, he tapped then-Rep. Carolyn Maloney to act in his capacity. She ultimately became the committee chair.
