May 21, 2025 Patricia Harper-Tunley, chair of the 5th District Democratic Committee, issued the following statement today on the passing of Rep. Gerry Connelly: Today, we mourn the passing of Rep. Gerry Connolly, who devoted nearly four decades of his life to public service—as a staffer on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a member and two-term chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and a nine-term member of Congress. He was known for so many things, including his fierce advocacy on behalf of federal workers and his work on cybersecurity and Information Technology modernization. And he knew how to get things done. The Center for Effective Lawmaking, a joint venture of the University of Virginia and Vanderbilt University, had named Mr. Connolly the “most effective lawmaker” of the 2021-2023 congressional session. And in November of 2024, he was chosen by his colleagues to be ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. His presence will be missed, but his spirit of strength, endurance, and persistence will continue to elevate, influence, and inspire those of us who follow in his footsteps. On behalf of Democrats throughout the Fifth Congressional District, I extend my deepest condolences to his family.