Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly died Wednesday at age 75, weeks after stepping down from a top Democratic role and announcing he would not seek re-election after the return of esophageal cancer.

Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly, who edged out New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) for a top Democratic post in December before stepping down, died from esophageal cancer on Wednesday, becoming the third Democrat to die in office this term.

The late congressman made headlines in December when, with support from former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, he defeated AOC to lead the House Oversight Committee, despite reportedly violating stock trading laws, according to Raw Story. AOC would have been the youngest Democrat to chair a House committee at 35 years old.

  • ExtantHuman@lemm.ee
    711·
    9 days ago

    So she’ll be replacing him, right?!

    Or did Democrats just shit themselves in the for again and that seat will now remain empty like they did with that cryptkeeper lady from California who wasn’t even different enough to go to Congress and do her job

    • BigFig@lemmy.worldEnglish
      57·
      9 days ago

      They will just hand it to the guy he named in his place “temporarily” and refuse to have new committee elections

      • conditional_soup@lemm.ee
        20·
        9 days ago

        It would be so goddamn funny and on brand if the democratic establishment’s plan to keep AOC out of that committee chair backfires so hard that she becomes president or 360 no scopes Schumer.

          • grue@lemmy.world
            3·
            8 days ago

            Because I don’t think you’re allowed to be a Senator and the President at the same time. Although I can’t remember which part of the Constitution says that, so maybe it’s one of those things that’s a norm instead of a rule?