Rep. Gerald Connolly to Retire from Congress in 2026 Following Health Challenges
On April 28, Rep. Gerald Connolly announced he will not seek re-election in 2026 due to a recurrence of esophageal cancer. He has held his congressional seat since 2008 and plans to step down as ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. The 2026 election for his district is currently forecasted as “Solid Democratic,” amid a wave of retirements across Congress.
Representative Gerald Connolly, a Democrat from Virginia, declared on April 28, 2025, that he would not pursue re-election for his House seat in 2026. This announcement comes on the heels of his previous revelation in November 2024 concerning a diagnosis of esophageal cancer. He stated, “After grueling treatments, we’ve learned that the cancer, while initially beaten back, has now returned. The sun is setting on my time in public service, and this will be my last term in Congress.”
Connolly first entered Congress in 2008, securing a victory in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District after the incumbent, Republican Thomas M. Davis, chose not to run again. He defeated Keith S. Fimian in that election with 55 percent of the vote. Over his career, Connolly has enjoyed consistent support, winning his following seven re-election attempts by an average of 34 percentage points, and he ran unopposed in 2016. His largest margin of victory was in 2018, with a commanding 44-point lead, while in 2010, he narrowly defeated Fimian by just 0.4 percent.
As of April 29, 2025, analysts from The Cook Political Report and Inside Elections have classified the upcoming 2026 general election for Connolly’s district as “Solid Democratic,” with Sabato’s Crystal Ball deeming it “Safe Democratic.” Moreover, alongside his retirement announcement, Connolly revealed he would step down from his role as the ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability for the current term, the 119th Congress.
Kaia Hubbard from CBS News noted that Connolly’s decision might trigger a generational change within the committee’s leadership, as there has been a recent call for younger Democratic figures in leadership roles as the party adjusts to Republican dominance in Congress. The broader landscape shows a notable number of congressional retirements, with 14 members—five senators and nine representatives—announcing plans to exit before the 2026 elections.
Among those nine representatives, four Democrats and five Republicans are opting out of their current roles, with one Democrat retiring from politics altogether. Additionally, three Democrats and one Republican are pursuing U.S. Senate seats, while four Republicans are aiming for gubernatorial positions. Retirement trends reveal a contrast when considering previous election cycles with eight announcements in 2024, eleven in 2022, five in 2020, and seven in 2018. Research from Ballotpedia has tracked 361 announcements from congressional members not pursuing re-election since January 2011, indicating January recorded the highest monthly total with 69 announcements while June had the lowest at 12.
Representative Gerald Connolly’s announcement marks a significant moment as he departs from the U.S. House after overcoming significant health challenges. His decision highlights potential shifts in leadership within the Democratic Party while indicating broader trends in congressional retirements. As the political landscape evolves, more representatives are choosing to exit in light of upcoming elections, reflecting a mix of strategic moves and personal decisions in a changing political environment.
Original Source: news.ballotpedia.org
