Veteran Democrat to Retire After Cancer Returns

A senior Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives has announced he will finish out his current term but will not run for reelection due to a recurrence of cancer — a development that could impact his party’s efforts to regain control of the chamber.

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), 75, shared the news in a letter to supporters, revealing that he had been diagnosed six months ago and has since questioned whether continuing his campaign would hurt Democrats’ push to reclaim the House.

“Your outpouring of love and support has given me strength in my fights – both against cancer and in our collective defense of democracy,” Connolly wrote in a message addressed to his “friends.”

“When I announced my diagnosis six months ago, I promised transparency. After grueling treatments, we’ve learned that the cancer, while initially beaten back, has now returned. I’ll do everything possible to continue to represent you and thank you for your grace,” he continued. “The sun is setting on my time in public service, and this will be my last term in Congress. I will be stepping back as Ranking Member of the Oversight Committee.”

Despite Connolly’s retirement, Republicans may still face an uphill battle to flip the seat. The Cook Political Report currently labels Virginia’s 11th Congressional District as D+18, and Connolly has consistently won nearly two-thirds of the vote in Fairfax County, located in the northern suburbs of Washington, D.C.

Even so, Republicans — emboldened by Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s success in the state since the COVID-19 pandemic — are expected to mount a credible challenge, possibly forcing Democrats to invest resources in what has traditionally been a safe seat.

Adding another wrinkle is the departure of many former federal employees. Layoffs during the Trump administration contributed to a rise in home sales in the D.C. area as career bureaucrats relocated, potentially shifting the district’s voter makeup in a way that could favor Republicans.

Analysts remain uncertain about which party will ultimately control the House after the 2026 midterms. While polling for generic congressional ballots tends to favor Democrats, 270 to Win forecasts Republicans will hold 208 solid seats, while Democrats will have 205, with 22 races currently viewed as toss-ups.

Connolly isn’t the only long-serving Democrat stepping aside. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), 80, recently said she will not run again after her 15th term, potentially avoiding a primary challenge from a 26-year-old opponent. In California, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is also reportedly considering her political future as a former staffer to progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) weighs a campaign.

Other Democrats are opting to pursue higher office rather than retire. Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) has declared her candidacy for Minnesota’s soon-to-be-open Senate seat, and Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-MI) is considering entering the race for the Michigan seat being vacated by Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), as reported by Punchbowl News.

At the same time, senior Democratic figures are facing increasing calls to make way for younger, more progressive lawmakers. One of them is Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, who addressed these dynamics in a Sunday interview.

“I am staying put, and I’m fighting the fight every day, as is our caucus, in a united and successful way,” Schumer said on CNN’s State of the Union. “We’re showing America how bad Trump is, and showing that Republicans who embrace Trump do so at their peril.”

Sen. Dick Durbin, the minority whip and a 44-year Senate veteran, said during his own retirement announcement last week that it’s time to “pass the torch.”

Schumer previously faced criticism in March for not blocking a Trump-supported funding bill, prompting Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet to suggest that Democrats should “have future conversations” about party leadership.