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.

  • Curious CanidEnglish
    12•17 hours ago

    No, they are not. False equivalence just takes the focus off the people who really are responsible. Trump, his enablers, and his supporters created this disaster.

    A lot of useless Democrats failed to stand up and try to stop it. They have much to answer for, but they are in a different category.

    • @zbyte64@awful.systems
      11•15 hours ago

      It was a system of checks and balances, but the Democrats went along with consolidating power. So while yes, they aren’t the direct cause, they were the adults in the room and they failed in that responsibility.