Gerry Connolly VA-11

Gerry Connolly - VA11
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Democrat representative Gerry Connolly, who introduced the bill, said "changing the nature of the civil service is rare and important, and it should require express congressional participation through legislation". Photo by the AFGE via Flickr - Global Government Forum

Summary

Note: Recently deceased

Current Position: US Representative of US House District 11 since 2009
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position: Board of Supervisors – Fairfax County from 1995 – 2007
District: Comprises most of Fairfax County and the entirety of Fairfax City.
Upcoming Election:

Pinned Tweet 2/24/22: Sorry, you lose the right to complain about partisanship once you’ve fanned the flames of violent insurrection.

Connolly worked from 1979 to 1989 with the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, where he managed committee oversight of international economic issues, international narcotics control, and United Nations and Middle East policies, and published reports on U.S. policy in El Salvador, Central America, Israel, and the Persian Gulf region.[2] From 1989 to 1997, he was Vice President of the Washington Office of SRI International. He was also Director of Community Relations for SAIC (Science Applications International Corporation).

Learn About Gerry Connolly in one minute

News

Gerry Connolly, longtime federal workforce and IT advocate, dead at 75
Federal News Network, Jory Heckman – May 21, 2025

Gerry Connolly, the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, a longtime advocate for the federal workforce and government IT modernization, died Wednesday morning. He was 75 years old.

Conolly announced he was stepping down as ranking member last month, and would not seek reelection next year. He was diagnosed with esophageal cancer last November. After successful cancer treatment, he told his constituents in April the cancer had returned.

“The sun is setting on my time in public service, and this will be my last term in Congress,” Connolly wrote in an email to his constituents last month.

Connolly has represented northern Virginia since 2009 and was an outspoken supporter of federal employees.

In recent months, Connolly rebuked the Trump administration’s plans to shrink the federal workforce. As the oversight committee’s ranking member, he launched several investigations into the Department of Government Efficiency’s role at federal agencies and criticized Elon Musk’s position within the administration.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) said in a statement that Connolly “exemplified the very best of public service.”

“Gerry was a fighter. His sharp mind, boundless energy, and deep commitment to the people of Northern Virginia made him a force to be reckoned with,” Warner said.

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Media
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Highly Effective Democratic Lawmakers
Center for Effective Lawmaking

The following table identifies the top ten highest-scorers in the 117th House of Representatives among majority-party Democrats. Unsurprisingly, given the power of committee and subcommittee chairs, nine of the top ten held such important positions.

Topping our list is Rep. Gerald Connolly of Virginia, with a Legislative Effectiveness Score more than seven times the average member of the House. Rep. Connolly was Chair of the Government Operations subcommittee of the House Oversight and Reform Committee in the 117th Congress, where he was serving his 7th term. He sponsored 51 bills, 11 of which passed the House, and 3 of which became law as standalone measures. In contrast, the average member of the House sponsored 21 bills, with only one law produced for every two House members. In addition to sponsoring the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, Rep. Connolly was the sponsor of the First Responder Fair RETIRE Act, which allowed disabled first responders to collect federal retirement benefits in a manner equivalent to non-disabled federal first responders.  Rep. Connolly was also the sponsor of two bills, the Enhanced Whistleblower Engagement Act, and the FedRAMP Authorization Act, that had their language substantially incorporated into the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, which was signed into law in December 2022.

While he used his position as committee chair to advance numerous pieces of legislation in the 117th Congress, Rep. Connolly has been an effective lawmaker throughout his career, even as a rank-and-file Representative, and when in the minority party. For example, he was in our “Exceeds Expectations” grouping in five of the seven Congresses in which he served, beginning with his third term in Congress, and every term thereafter (including the 117th Congress).

10 Ten House Dem - 117th image
Rep. Gerry Connolly compares Biden’s administration to LBJ after State of the Union address
WUSA9 – February 7, 2023 (01:55)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgyBpo9uFM4
Connolly Introduces Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act
Government Page – March 1, 2023

Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) introduced the Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act, bipartisan legislation to ensure federal firefighters are eligible for the same full and fair retirement benefits as their state and local counterparts.

Every day, federal firefighters put their lives at risk to protect our nation’s most critical assets – including the families, homes, and infrastructure on military installations across the country. Yet under current law, these brave first responders are denied the robust retirement package they deserve. Unlike their counterparts in state and local government, federal firefighters are not credited with the additional income from mandatory overtime for the purposes of calculating their retirement benefits.

The Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act would correct this injustice. By taking into account the number of overtime hours worked by federal firefighters each year, this bill would allow for a more accurate and equitable retirement calculation for our nation’s federal firefighters.

“These courageous men and women work grueling hours in the most difficult of circumstances,” said Connolly. “It is our absolute responsibility to provide them with a retirement worthy of the sacrifices they have made in service to the United States. Our bipartisan legislation fulfills that responsibility, and ensures that our retired federal firefighters are compensated fairly and fully.”

“Federal firefighters put themselves directly in harm’s way and save lives on a daily basis – all while working 72 hours per week. It’s time they are paid a fair wage for their work, not one-third less than their state and local counterparts. Requiring federal firefighters to work such a grueling schedule exacerbates their risk for occupational injuries and burnout, and reduces their retirement earnings,”  said Edward A. Kelly, General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters.  “I thank Representative Gerry Connolly for introducing the Federal Firefighters Pay Equity Act which will ensure our federal firefighters receive a living wage and a fair work schedule. This critical bill will also strengthen federal firefighters’ retirement by counting their overtime hours when calculating their retirement earnings. I call on Congress to pass this bill immediately and give federal firefighters the recognition and compensation that they have earned while protecting our nation.”

Connolly Leads Bipartisan Letter to USAID Urging Continued Assistance for Türkiye and Syria Following Earthquakes
Government Page – February 17, 2023

Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA), a senior member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and President Emeritus of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, led 34 Members of Congress in sending a bipartisan letter to USAID Administrator Samantha Power urging continued assistance for Türkiye and Syria following the devastating earthquakes that have claimed tens of thousands of lives across both countries.

“We commend USAID and the United States government’s swift response to the humanitarian crisis,” wrote the Members. “By deploying a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) and courageous Urban Search and Rescue Teams from Los Angeles County, California and Fairfax County, Virginia, within hours of the earthquake, your agency’s rapid action will unquestionably save lives.”

The Members identified the following urgent needs on the ground:

  1. Heavy machinery for the removal of debris
  2. Additional tents, sleeping bags, isolation sheets and Non-Food Items
  3. Items to protect against freezing temperatures such as winter coats, winter pants, winter boots, portable and pocket heaters
  4. The provision of energy supplies, including for hospitals and health centers
  5. Emergency food assistance
  6. Water trucks and sanitation services for temporary shelters to house displaced people
  7. Further ambulances and medicine provisions (especially trauma supplies). Such supplies include Electrocardiogram (ECG) devices, defibrillators, portable ultrasound machines, glucometers, surgical kits, power generation for hospital and other humanitarian needs
  8. The establishment of safe spaces equipped with basic needs for women
  9. Increased cash distributions
  10. Full funding of the Syria Humanitarian Response Plan (2022-2023), a plan already severely underfunded with less than 50% of the required $4 billion fulfilled
Connolly and Franklin Introduce Cardiac Arrest Survival Act
Government Page – February 15, 2023

Reps. Gerry Connolly (VA-11) and Scott Franklin (FL-18) today introduced the Cardiac Arrest Survival Act. This bipartisan bill would save lives by establishing a uniform base of liability protection for businesses that acquire automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and the good Samaritans who use them. AEDs are used to assist victims of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrests (SCA). Deployment of AEDs is currently limited due to conflicting state laws that discourage their use through the threat of lawsuits. This liability protection will encourage higher use of AEDs, which increases the survival rate from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).

“Access to AEDs is critical to saving lives during a cardiac emergency,” said Rep. Connolly. “As Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors I made it a priority that County buildings and schools deploy this lifesaving technology, and that staff have the knowledge and training to use these tools effectively. This legislation will ensure we don’t allow fear of liability or a patchwork of differing protections across the states to prevent an individual or business from taking all necessary measures to save a life.”

“Sudden Cardiac Arrest is the third leading cause of death in America,” said Rep. Franklin. “The recent shocking incident involving Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin demonstrated how sudden and critical a cardiac arrest event can be. Quick deployment of an AED saved his life. Conflicting state laws and concerns over lawsuits have prevented wider access to this life-saving technology. We need nationwide uniformity in protections to encourage higher use of AEDs in the event of an emergency. I thank my colleague, Gerry Connolly for joining me in this effort to save lives.”

According to the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation, roughly 356,000 people of all ages experience EMS-assessed out-of-hospital non-traumatic SCA each year and nine out of 10 victims die. When bystanders intervene immediately by giving CPR, survival rates double or triple. State laws differ dramatically on who is eligible for immunity. In some states, only trained AED users are protected from liability. The Franklin bill does not obligate businesses to acquire an AED and adds no cost to American taxpayers. The bill does not indemnify device manufacturers or create liability protections that don’t already exist.

Connolly, Fitzpatrick Introduce Bipartisan Saving the Civil Service Act to Protect Federal Workforce from Politicization
Government Page – February 14, 2023

Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced the Saving the Civil Service Act to protect the federal workforce from politicization and political manipulation. The bipartisan legislation includes and builds on Connolly and Fitzpatrick’s Preventing a Patronage System Act, which passed the House in September 2022. The legislation is cosponsored by Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (D-VA).

“The civil servants who make up our federal workforce are the engine that keeps our federal government running,” said Congressman Connolly.  “They are our country’s greatest asset. We rely on their experience and expertise to provide every basic government service—from delivering the mail to helping families in the wake of natural disasters.  The former President’s attempt to remove qualified experts and replace them with political loyalists was a direct threat to our national security and our government’s ability to function the way the American people expect it to.  Expertise, not political fealty, must define our civil service.”

“Civil service employment should always be based upon merit and expertise, not political connections,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “The security of our nation depends upon an efficient and competent federal workforce. This legislation would ensure that political loyalties play no significant role in hiring federal employees, and I’m proud to co-lead this effort to further ensure that our workforce consists of the best and brightest individuals.”

On October 21, 2020, President Trump signed Executive Order 13957 creating Schedule F in the excepted service. This executive order would undermine the merit system principles of our federal workforce by requiring agency heads to reclassify “policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating” positions to a newly created Schedule F category of federal employees that removes their due process rights and civil service protections.

The Saving the Civil Service Act would ensure the civil service system cannot be politically manipulated by:

Preventing any position in the federal competitive service, created after September 30, 2020, from being reclassified outside of merit system principles without the express consent of Congress.

Installing a cap on the number of conversions to the frozen excepted service schedule (Schedule C). Furthermore, that cap cannot exceed more than one percent of the total number of employees at such agency as of the first day of such term, or five employees, whichever is greater.

Requiring that anyone who is converted provide consent for that conversion, and a report to Congress on any conversions.

The Saving the Civil Service Act is endorsed by the following organizations: The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), Professional Managers Association, American Society for Public Administration (ASPA), National Active and Retired Federal Employees Union (NARFE), Senior Executives Association, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), National Association of Assistant US Attorneys, National Weather Service Employees Organization, Patent Office Professional Association.

“We commend Representative Connolly and Senator Kaine – two true friends of federal workers – for introducing the ‘Saving the Civil Service Act’ to prevent a return to 19th century patronage hiring. This legislation would finally slam the door shut on one the last administration’s worst ideas, which was to unilaterally declare untold thousands of existing career civil servants to be at-will political appointees.  The bill would wisely make it illegal for any president to try that in the future and deserves swift passage. We hope both parties see the value of a highly skilled, apolitical civil service hired for what they know and not who they know,” said Everett Kelley, National President, American Federation of Government Employees.

“The Saving the Civil Service Act provides a bipartisan, congressional check on misuse of executive powers by limiting the ability of any president to bypass the merit-based civil service framework through broad new exceptions to longstanding rules. The merit-based civil service system provides continuity through changing administrations, preserves institutional knowledge and expertise within the federal government, and protects the rule of law. It ensures federal employees are hired and fired based on their ability to perform the job – or not – and not based on political connections. NARFE is grateful that Congressman Connolly and Senator Kaine are leading the way on this effort to preserve a critical institutional safeguard for democracy.” said William Shackelford, National President, National Active and Retired Federal Employees Union.

“The federal civil service is the backbone of our government – a system designed to ensure that employees are selected for their jobs based on merit rather than political patronage. However, at the end of his term in office Donald Trump tried to dismantle this system and replace it with one based on patronage and partisanship” said Debra Perlin, Policy Director at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). “Rep. Connolly and Rep. Fitzpatrick’s Saving the Civil Service Act is a necessary step to uphold protections for federal workers and reduce the possibility for patronage-based hiring in the future. For the sake of our democracy we urge Congress to pass this legislation as soon as possible and send it to President Biden for his signature.”

“NTEU strongly supports the Saving the Civil Service Act introduced by Sen. Kaine, Rep. Connolly and Rep. Fitzpatrick. It is essential that Congress proactively block any future attempt to turn the professional federal workforce into one of political patronage. When it comes to staffing federal agencies and delivering government services to all Americans, we cannot put partisan loyalty over the skills and qualifications of those who have dedicated their careers to service. NTEU is proud to endorse this bipartisan legislation because it protects the civil service as well as the public’s faith in it,” said Tony Reardon, National President of the National Treasury Employees Union.

“NFFE strongly supports the Saving the Civil Service Act,” said Randy Erwin, National President, National Federation of Federal Employees. “This bipartisan legislation will protect the merit system principles of the federal workforce by preventing a U.S. president from requiring political loyalty from the apolitical career ranks of federal civil service. Federal labor, executives, and professional associations all agree with political appointees from former Democratic and Republican administrations that this bill is critical to ensuring the government remains in the hands of the American people and not some political despot, even if that despot is a president.  Every member of Congress must choose: You either support transparency and accountability through this bill or you support rogue political operatives who covertly run private agendas while on the Taxpayer’s dime.  You cannot have it both ways.”

“The Saving the Civil Service Act is vital to protecting government employees who serve the American public fairly, with integrity, and are beholden only to upholding and defending the Constitution.  Without this legislation, political partisans will use Schedule F to drive government service by fear and the use of politically motivated retribution to serve partisan interests,” said Mitch MacDonald, President of the NOAA Attorneys Guild.

“The Saving the Civil Service Act will help prevent partisan politics from bleeding into government service by thwarting any President from instilling a cadre of loyalists in the federal workforce. In doing so, it ensures the workforce remains loyal to only the Constitution and the law. This bill also promotes both efficiency and reliability. At the Internal Revenue Service, career leaders have significant knowledge about complex tax laws and vast congressional mandates. Their knowledge expedites the onboarding process for political appointees, provides expert insight for other employees, and ensures timely, accurate information is relayed to stakeholders. We applaud Senator Kaine, Representative Connolly, and Representative Fitzpatrick for leading this effort on behalf of the American people who rely on the equal and efficient delivery of government services,” said Chad Hooper, Executive Director, Professional Managers Association.

“The dedicated professionals protected under the Saving the Civil Service Act are subject matter experts with a long history of serving our nation. They are the linchpin to making our government and public programs operate effectively, efficiently and equitably. And, they are the institutional backbone to maintaining consistency in administering these programs across administrations, amidst changing cultural trends, and so often in the face of partisanship and unnecessary attack. The American Society for Public Administration wholeheartedly supports their work; this legislation helps prevents their loyal service from being distorted for partisan goals,” said William Shields, Jr., Executive Director and CEO, American Society for Public Administration.

“Under current law, any president can seize control over the non-partisan career workforce, and through this control, manipulate the equal and apolitical delivery of government services to promote their own ends. Any president could revert thousands of federal positions back to the spoils the American people rejected over 130 years ago. We applaud Representative Connolly and Representative Fitzpatrick for introducing this bill to protect the American people from this politicization and defend the apolitical government workforce,” said Marcus Hill, Board Chair, Senior Executives Association.

“We applaud Congressman Gerry Connolly and Senator Tim Kaine for sponsoring the Saving Our Civil Service Act to prevent any presidential administration from politicizing competitive civil service positions, undermining the professionalism of our federal government, circumventing merit principles and due process, and jeopardizing the continuity of government across changing administrations,” said Matthew Biggs, President of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE). “The Saving Our Civil Service Act is sensible legislation that would protect a core institution in our federal government so that it continues to serve the best interests of the American public and not personal and political allegiance. Federal employees working in the nonpartisan competitive civil service play critical roles in national defense, economic security, scientific progress, public safety, and providing essential services that Americans count on.”

Connolly Named Ranking Member of House Oversight
MeriTalk, Grace Dille – January 31, 2023

Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., will serve as ranking member of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee’s Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation, a Capitol Hill source told MeriTalk today.

Last Congress, Rep. Connolly – long one of the prime movers in Congress on Federal IT modernization issues – chaired the Government Operations Subcommittee, which has now been split into two new subcommittees.

The Government Operations subcommittee – one of the most active in Congress on the Federal IT front – was perhaps best known for its work in creating the semiannual FITARA Scorecard that ranks Federal agencies on their IT progress.

Connolly, Wilson Reintroduce Crimea Annexation Non-Recognition Act
Government Page – January 26, 2023

Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA), President Emeritus of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and a senior member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC), also a senior member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, reintroduced the Crimea Annexation Non-recognition Act. This bipartisan legislation would prohibit any federal agency from taking any action or extending any assistance that recognizes or implies recognition of Russia’s sovereignty over Crimea, its airspace, or its territorial waters.

“The United States must not acquiesce to Russia’s illegal and forcible annexation and occupation,” Congressman Connolly said. “We must repeat time and again, for however long it takes, that we will never recognize Russia’s forcible and illegal annexation of Crimea. I want to thank my friend Joe Wilson for his partnership on this issue, even as I sincerely hope this is the last time we need to introduce this bill. It is long past time for it to become law.”

“In 2014, the war criminal Putin took his first major step of aggression against the sovereign nation of Ukraine when he violated international law by invading and illegally annexing Crimea,” said Congressman Wilson. “The U.S. government must be clear that any failure to acknowledge the occupation of Crimea as illegal will not be tolerated. I thank Congressman Connolly, the President Emeritus of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, for his longtime leadership on this critical issue.”

National Defense Authorization Acts and appropriations bills from FY 2016-2023 include similar language to this bill and prohibit those funds from being used on any action that recognizes Russian sovereignty over Crimea. This legislation, which passed the House in the 116th Congress (417-1), would codify that prohibition until Ukrainian sovereignty over Crimea is fully restored.

Rep. Gerry Connolly: “Donald Trump Has To Face His Reckoning.”
MSNBC – December 19, 2022 (09:26)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Md8e-Gg5sc

A string of new polls show Donald Trump’s support among voters slipping after his lackluster campaign kick-off. MSNBC’s Michael Steele spoke to Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) about Trump’s 2024 bid, possible criminal referrals from the January 6th Committee, and how Democrats plan to combat a wave of investigations from Republicans when the Party takes control of the House next year.

About

Gerry Connolly VA-11Congressman Gerald E. “Gerry” Connolly is serving his eighth term in the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia’s 11th District, which includes Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax. Prior to his election to Congress, he served 14 years on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, including five years as Chairman. Throughout his career, protecting and growing Northern Virginia’s economy has been his top priority.

In Congress, he has played a key role in securing federal dollars for transportation improvements in Northern Virginia, including completion of the Fairfax County Parkway, widening the Prince William County Parkway, providing ongoing support for Rail to Dulles, and securing the annual federal commitment of $150 million for the regional Metro system.

Congressman Connolly is a senior member of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability and serves as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation. In this role, he is responsible for shaping government-wide policy on issues related to information security, including cybersecurity and privacy; government-wide federal information technology management and innovation; and procurement.

He also serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Using his extensive background in foreign policy, including as a senior staff member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he has become a leading voice on foreign assistance reform, war powers, embassy security, and democracy promotion abroad.

Congressman Connolly co-authored the bipartisan Issa-Connolly Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA), which was signed into law in 2014, and represents the first major overhaul of the federal laws governing IT management since enactment of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996. In 2016, he passed the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act, which allows temporary employees of land management agencies to now be eligible for civil servant positions. He also helped pass the Telework Enhancement Act, which requires the federal government to increase the use of telework by federal employees to ensure continuity of operations by federal agencies during emergency situations, enhance recruitment of a quality federal workforce, reduce traffic congestion, and improve the region’s air quality.

Congressman Connolly received an M.A. in Public Administration from Harvard University in 1979. He received a B.A. in Literature from Maryknoll College in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.

He resides in Fairfax with his wife Smitty and has a daughter Caitlin.

Personal

Full Name:  Gerald ‘Gerry’ Edward Connolly

Gender:  Male

Family:  Wife: Cathy; 1 Child: Caitlin

Birth Date:  03/30/1950

Birth Place:  Boston, MA

Home City: Fairfax, VA

Religion: Catholic

Source: Vote Smart

Education

MPA, Harvard University, 1979

BA, Literature, Maryknoll College, 1971

Political Experience

Representative, United States House of Representatives, Virginia, District 11, 2008-present

Chair, Board of Supervisors, Fairfax County, 2003-2007

Providence District Supervisor, Board of Supervisors, Fairfax County, 1995-2003

Source:

Professional Experience

Former Vice President, Community Relations, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC)

Vice President, Washington Office, SRI International, 1989-1997

Staff, United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee, 1979-1989

Offices

Congressman Gerry Connolly has two offices to serve you: our office on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. and our District Office in Fairfax.

Washington DC Office
2265 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-1492

Fairfax District Office
10680 Main Street
Suite 140
Fairfax, VA 22030
Phone: (703) 256-3071
Fax: (703) 354-1284

Contact

Email: Government Office

Web Links

Videos

Chairman Gerry Connolly’s Opening Statement: Future of Federal Work II

July 21, 2022 (08:30)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po3s1kAY9qI

More Information

Services

Source: Government page

District

Source: Wikipedia

Gerry Connolly VA-11 1
Virginia’s 11th congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Situated in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C., the district comprises most of Fairfax County and the entirety of Fairfax City. The district is represented by Democrat Gerry Connolly.

The Hill newspaper quotes census data to conclude that Virginia’s 11th district was the wealthiest congressional district in the nation from 2003 to 2013. The article attributed the wealth to the many lobbyists and two-career couples in Northern Virginia.

The district last existed in what is now West Virginia’s 1st district and was held by Jacob B. Blair before the events of the U.S. Civil War. Virginia did not have an 11th district until it was re-created after the 1990 United States census from portions of the old 8th and 10th districts because of explosive growth in Northern Virginia. It was intended to be a “fair fight” district; indeed, it encompassed most of the more Democratic portions of the old 10th district and the more Republican portions of the old 8th district.

George W. Bush only narrowly defeated John Kerry here in 2004, while Democratic Governor Tim Kaine and Democratic Senator Jim Webb both carried this district, in 2005 and 2006 respectively. In 2008, Barack Obama won this district over Republican Senator John McCain. Democrat Leslie L. Byrne briefly held the seat for the first election cycle of the new district, but was quickly defeated in 1994 by Republican Tom Davis. Davis established a secure hold on the district during his tenure (1995–2008), but Democrat Gerald Connolly won it when Davis stepped down.

Both Davis and Connolly may have been aided by their previous service on the Board of Supervisors of Fairfax County, where most of the 11th district’s population is concentrated. 61.5% of 11th congressional district residents live in Fairfax County. The results of the 2010 United States census showed this district’s population continued to grow, and due to redistricting covered more urban areas in Northern Virginia to favor the incumbent, Connolly.

Wikipedia

For the Australian comedian, see Gerry Connolly (comedian).

Gerald Edward Connolly (March 30, 1950 – May 21, 2025) was an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for Virginia’s 11th congressional district from 2009 until his death in 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, he was first elected in 2008 to replace retiring Republican incumbent Tom Davis, who did not seek re-election and later resigned shortly after the election. The 11th district is situated in the suburbs of Northern Virginia. It is anchored in the affluent Fairfax County, where Connolly served on the county’s board of supervisors before his election to Congress, and also includes the entirety of Fairfax City.

In April 2025, Connolly announced that he would not seek re-election in 2026 citing health concerns. He died in office on May 21, 2025, following treatment for esophageal cancer.

Early life and education

Connolly was born in Boston on March 30, 1950, the son of Mary Therese (née O’Kane), a nurse, and Edward R. Connolly, an insurance salesman.[1][2][3][4][5] He graduated from Maryknoll Junior Seminary (nicknamed Venard) High School in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, in 1968. In 1971, he graduated from Maryknoll College in Glen Ellyn, Illinois,[6] with a Bachelor of Arts in literature, and completed a Master of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School in 1979.[2]

Career

U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

Connolly worked from 1979 to 1989 with the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, where he managed committee oversight of international economic issues, international narcotics control, and United Nations and Middle East policies, and published reports on U.S. policy in El Salvador, Central America, Israel, and the Persian Gulf region.[7] From 1989 to 1997, he was Vice President of the Washington Office of SRI International. He was also Director of Community Relations for SAIC (Science Applications International Corporation).[8]

In local politics, Connolly served as Providence District Supervisor for nine years, first elected in 1995.[9]

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors

Connolly during 2015 Fairfax City Independence Day parade

Connolly’s career as a public official began on March 28, 1995, when he won a special election for the Providence District seat on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, defeating Republican Jeannemarie A. Devolites.[10] A rematch against Devolites in November of that same year saw Connolly reelected to a full four-year term on the board.[11] Connolly ran unopposed for reelection in November 1999. He was elected Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in 2003 and reelected in 2007.

As chairman of the ten-member board, Connolly balanced a $4.5 billion budget and managed a county that would be the nation’s 13th-largest city, 12th-largest school district, and sixth-largest office market. He served as chairman of the county’s Legislative Committee and vice-chair of the Economic Advisory Committee. Connolly also served as chairman of the board of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC), chairman of the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC), and was chairman of the board of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG). He also represented Fairfax County on the board of the Virginia Association of Counties (VaCo), where he also served as president.[12]

U.S. House of Representatives

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Legislation sponsored

Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (H.R. 1232; 113th Congress) As the ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Connolly co-sponsored this bill with Darrell Issa. It is a proposed bill that would make changes and reforms to the current framework that manages how the federal government buys new technology.[28] One of the requirements would be that the government develop a streamlined plan for its acquisitions.[29] The bill would increase the power of existing chief information officers (CIO) within federal agencies so that they could be more effective.[30] Each agency would also be reduced to having only one CIO in the agency, who is then responsible for the success and failure of all IT projects in that agency.[31] The bill would also require the federal government to make use of private sector best practices.[30] The bill is intended to reduce IT procurement related waste.[32] Explaining the bill, Connolly said that “there are more than 250 identified CIOs in the federal government, yet none possess the necessary authority to effectively manage IT investments” which has “resulted in duplicative and wasteful IT spending.”[30] It passed the House in a voice vote on February 25, 2014.[29]

Government Reports Elimination Act of 2014 (H.R. 4194; 113th Congress) As the ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Connolly co-sponsored this bill with Darrell Issa. It is a proposed bill that would eliminate approximately 100 required federal agency reports that are considered redundant or wasteful.[33] Connolly argued that “in today’s challenging fiscal environment, it is incumbent that we leverage every opportunity to streamline or eliminate antiquated agency reporting requirements that are duplicative, irrelevant or simply ignored.”[34] The bill passed in the House in a voice vote on April 28, 2014.[35]

In the 117th United States Congress, the Center for Effective Lawmaking’s legislative effectiveness scores ranked Connolly as the most effective legislator.[36]

Political positions

Connolly voted with President Joe Biden‘s stated position 100% of the time, according to FiveThirtyEight analysis completed in January 2023.[37]

Abortion

Connolly supported abortion rights.[38] He voted against the Stupak Amendment to the Affordable Care Act, which placed stringent limits on health insurance companies offering abortion services. During the budget amendments process in 2011, he voted against an amendment that would have prevented taxpayer funds from going to Planned Parenthood.[39]

Civil liberties

Connolly voted for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 regarding funding the US Armed Forces, including the paychecks delivered to soldiers but also including a controversial provision that allows the government and the military to detain anyone “who was part of or substantially supported al-Qaeda, the Taliban, or associated forces that are engaged in hostilities against the United States or its coalition partners”, and anyone who commits a “belligerent act” against the United States or its coalition allies in aid of such enemy forces, under the law of war, “without trial, until the end of the hostilities authorized by the Authorization of Use of Military Force.” The law would not grant new powers to the President but does codify federal court rulings on this issue and the detainment of unlawful combatants until hostilities are over is in accordance to the Geneva Conventions.[40][41]

Economics

Connolly voted for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009,[42] the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009,[43] the supplemental appropriations bill that established Cash for Clunkers,[43] and the Cash for Clunkers Extension.[44] Additionally, he voted for all of the 2010 governmental appropriations bills,[45][46][47][48][49][50] and he voted for the Continuing Appropriations Act for 2011.[51] He voted against some large spending bills, including the release of $350 billion in bank bailout funds[52] and a $154 billion spending bill[53] because of concerns these would add to the federal deficit.[54]

He was a cosponsor of pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) budget legislation that was signed into law in February 2010.[55]

In May 2011, Connolly voted to increase the debt ceiling, but the measure failed by a significant margin.[56] It was his third such vote.[57]

Connolly was among the 46 Democrats who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.[58]

Energy

Connolly voted in favor of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009,[59] saying it would strengthen national security while spurring innovation in the energy industry.[60] In 2010, he voted in favor of ending a moratorium on deepwater drilling rigs that met certain safety standards.[61] Connolly was one of the 35 congressmen who founded the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition.[62]

LGBT issues

Connolly supported gay rights. He campaigned against the Marshall-Newman Amendment to the Virginia Constitution, which banned all gay unions from being performed or recognized in Virginia.[63] In Congress, he voted in favor of repealing the contentious “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law that prohibited gays from serving openly in the military. He co-sponsored bills that would repeal portions of the Defense of Marriage Act—a federal law that had effectively banned same-sex marriage across the country.[64]

Guns

While on the Board of Supervisors for Fairfax County, Connolly sponsored an ordinance that would have made it illegal to transport a loaded shotgun in the back of one’s car.[65] In Congress, Connolly signed on to a measure that would have closed the gun show loophole by requiring that private sellers of firearms at gun shows engage in the same background check and reporting requirements as registered firearms dealers.[66] Connolly opposed allowing concealed weapons in schools and on college campuses.[67]

In November 2011, Connolly voted against the National Right to Carry Reciprocity Act, which would have exempted non-residents of states that prohibit concealed weapons from those restrictions.[68]

Health care

See also: Health care reform debate in the United States

In 2009, Connolly was an early supporter of the Democratic health care plan, which ultimately became the America’s Affordable Health Choices Act, as well as the public health insurance option, saying at a live chat with constituents in September to a woman from Washington, D.C. that “One of my principles for health care reform is that it increases the choices you have. By setting up a health insurance exchange, we can give your family more insurance choices, hopefully including one that your daughter’s doctor chooses to accept”. Connolly voted against the Stupak-Pitts Amendment,[69] and in 2010 for the America’s Affordable Health Choices Act.

Connolly cited deficit reduction in explaining his health care vote.[70][71]

Marijuana

Connolly supported rescheduling marijuana to expand its availability for research and medicine.[72]

Military veterans

Connolly was a cosponsor of the Helping Active Duty Deployed Act[73] and the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act.[74]

Foreign issues

Connolly supported military intervention in Syria.[75]

Connolly voted to provide Israel with support following October 7 attacks.[76][77] In the wake of the attack, he voted against recognizing anti-Zionism as a form of antisemitism.[78]

Connolly voted in favor of three military aid package supplementals for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan respectively in April 2024, along with most Democrats.[79][80][81] After all three bills successfully passed the House, he criticized House Republicans for delaying voting.[82]

Political campaigns

2008

See also: 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia § District 11

Connolly scored a 24-point victory over his closest opponent, former Congresswoman Leslie L. Byrne, in the 2008 Democratic primary. He then defeated Republican nominee Keith Fimian by more than ten points for the open seat held by Republican incumbent Tom Davis.[83] The Independent Green Party candidate was Joseph P. Oddo.

2010

Main article: 2010 Virginia’s 11th congressional district election
See also: 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia § District 11

Connolly was challenged again by Fimian in 2010. Also running were Libertarian David L. Dotson, Independent Green David William Gillis, Jr., and Independent Christopher F. DeCarlo. Connolly won by fewer than a thousand votes.[84]

2012

See also: 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia § District 11

Connolly was challenged by Republican nominee Chris Perkins, Green nominee Joe Galdo and independent candidates Peter Marchetti, Chris DeCarlo and Mark Gibson. He received 61% of the vote.[85] Connolly was significantly aided by redistricting. The old 11th had been reckoned a swing district, though Davis had held it without serious difficulty due to his popularity in the area. Redistricting made the 11th significantly more Democratic than its predecessor. Barack Obama carried the old 11th with 57% of the vote in 2008, but would have carried it with 61% of the vote under the new lines—making it one of the most Democratic white-majority districts in the South.

2014

See also: 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia § District 11

Connolly faced Republican Suzanne Scholte, Green Joe Galdo, and Libertarian Marc Harrold in his reelection bid, winning with 56.86% of the vote.[86]

2016

See also: 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia § District 11

Connolly ran unopposed for reelection in 2016.[87][88] He was reelected with 87.89% of the vote.[89]

2018

See also: 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia § District 11

Connolly faced Republican challenger, U.S. Army veteran Jeff Dove and Libertarian Stevan Porter in the 2018 election.[90]

2020

See also: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia § District 11

Connolly faced a progressive primary challenger, Zainab Mohsini, ahead of the general election, his first primary challenger. Connolly won the Democratic primary against Mohsini. Connolly defeated Republican Manga Anantatmula in the 2020 election.[91]

2022

See also: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia § District 11

Connolly faced Republican challenger, retired administrative law judge Jim Myles in the 2022 election.[92] He was reelected with 66.7% of the vote.[93]

2024

See also: 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia § District 11

Connolly faced a primary challenger, attorney Ahsan Nasar, whom he defeated with 85.64% of the vote.[94] In the general election, Connolly defeated Republican challenger Mike Van Meter with 66.68% of the vote.[95]

Electoral history

Gerry Connolly electoral history

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors

1995 Fairfax County Board of Supervisors special election[96]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gerry Connolly 4,478 59.05%
Republican Jeannemarie Devolites Davis 3,104 40.93%
Write-in 2 0.03%
Total votes 7,584 100.00%
1995 Fairfax County Board of Supervisors general election[97]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gerry Connolly (incumbent) 10,578 55.82%
Republican Jeannemarie Devolites Davis 8,371 44.18%
Total votes 18,949 100.00%
1999 Fairfax County Board of Supervisors general election[98]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gerry Connolly (incumbent) 14,309 100.00%
Total votes 14,309 100.00%
2003 Fairfax County Board of Supervisors general election[99]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gerry Connolly (incumbent) 98,419 53.14%
Republican Mychele B. Brickner 81,319 43.91%
Independent Jeremy G. Good 3,119 1.68%
Independent C.W. “Levi” Levy 2,346 1.27%
Total votes 185,203 100.00%
2007 Fairfax County Board of Supervisors general election[100]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gerry Connolly (incumbent) 113,830 59.47%
Republican Gary H. Baise 68,403 35.74%
Independent Glenda Gail Parker 8,990 4.70%
Write-in 185 0.10%
Total votes 191,408 100.00%

U.S. House of Representatives

2008 Virginia 11th congressional district election[101][102]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gerry Connolly 14,233 57.92%
Democratic Leslie Byrne 8,196 33.35%
Democratic Douglas J. Denneny 1,508 6.14%
Democratic Lori P. Alexander 638 2.60%
Total votes 24,575 100.00%
General election
Democratic Gerry Connolly 196,598 54.69%
Republican Keith S. Fimian 154,758 43.05%
Independent Joseph P. Oddo 7,271 2.02%
Write-in 864 0.24%
Total votes 359,491 100.00%
2010 Virginia 11th congressional district election[103]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gerry Connolly (incumbent) 111,720 49.23%
Republican Keith S. Fimian 110,739 48.79%
Independent Christopher Francis DeCarlo 1,846 0.81%
Libertarian David L. Dotson 1,382 0.61%
Independent David William Gillis, Jr. 959 0.42%
Write-in 305 0.13%
Total votes 226,951 100.00%
2012 Virginia 11th congressional district election[104]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gerry Connolly (incumbent) 202,606 60.89%
Republican Christopher S. Perkins 117,902 35.43%
Independent Mark Timothy Gibson 3,806 1.14%
Independent Christopher Francis DeCarlo 3,027 0.91%
Green Joseph Francis Galdo 2,195 0.66%
Independent Greens Peter Matthew Marchetti 1,919 0.58%
Write-in 1,300 0.39%
Total votes 332,755 100.00%
2014 Virginia 11th congressional district election[105]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gerry Connolly (incumbent) 106,780 56.93%
Republican Suzanne Scholte 75,796 40.41%
Libertarian Marc McCullough Harrold 3,264 1.74%
Green Joseph Francis Galdo 1,739 0.93%
Write-in 226 0.12%
Total votes 187,579 100.00%
2016 Virginia 11th congressional district election[106]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gerry Connolly (incumbent) 247,818 87.78%
Write-in 34,504 12.22%
Total votes 282,322 100.00%
2018 Virginia 11th congressional district election[107]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gerry Connolly (incumbent) 219,191 71.10%
Republican Jeffery Anthony Dove, Jr 83,023 26.93%
Libertarian Stevan Michael Porter 5,546 1.80%
Write-in 513 0.17%
Total votes 308,273 100.00%
2020 Virginia 11th congressional district election[108][109]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gerry Connolly (incumbent) 50,626 77.60%
Democratic Zainab Masooma Mohsini 14,610 22.39%
Write-in 5 0.01%
Total votes 65,241 100.00%
General election
Democratic Gerry Connolly (incumbent) 280,725 71.39%
Republican Manga Alamelu Anantatmula 111,380 28.32%
Write-in 1,136 0.29%
Total votes 393,241 100.00%
2022 Virginia 11th congressional district election[110]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gerry Connolly (incumbent) 193,190 66.70%
Republican James G. Myles 95,634 33.02%
Write-in 828 0.29%
Total votes 289,652 100.00%
2024 Virginia 11th congressional district election[111][112]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gerry Connolly (incumbent) 37,378 85.64%
Democratic Ahsan M. Nasar 6,270 14.36%
Total votes 43,648 100.00%
General election
Democratic Gerry Connolly (incumbent) 273,529 66.68%
Republican Mike L. Van Meter 134,802 32.86%
Write-in 1,855 0.45%
Total votes 410,186 100.00%

Summary

Personal life

Connolly and his daughter Caitlin during 2015 Fairfax City July 4 parade

Connolly and his wife Cathy lived in Mantua.[113]

Connolly was also a company member of The Providence Players of Fairfax, a community theatre in Fairfax County, having acted in several of their shows.[114]

In 2004, Connolly was charged with “a misdemeanor count of hit and run” after causing an estimated $500 worth of property damage to a 2003 Ford Explorer and Connolly’s 2003 Toyota Camry.[115] Connolly claims he did not realize a collision took place when he swerved and then immediately stalled, forcing the Explorer to collide into Connolly’s left front wheel.[115] The Fairfax County Police Department was criticized for giving Connolly special treatment and potentially saving him from being forced to resign for a felony instead of a misdemeanor charge.[115] Judge Craig Johnston later dismissed the misdemeanor charge against Connolly, saying Connolly’s “position and his duties have caused him to be oblivious to what is going on in his car”.[116] David Freddoso criticized the judge’s ruling in the Washington Examiner.[117]

2023 attack

On May 15, 2023, two of Connolly’s staffers were injured when a man walked into his Fairfax, Virginia, office and attacked them with a baseball bat. The U.S. Capitol Police identified the man as 49-year-old Xuan Kha Tran Pham, of Fairfax. Connolly was not in the office at the time of the attack.[118] Pham was also charged with a racial hate crime for an incident that had occurred several hours earlier when he smashed a car windshield after asking the occupant if she was white.[119] Pham was acquitted of the bat attack by reason of insanity.[120]

Illness and death

In November 2024, shortly after being reelected, Connolly disclosed that he had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer after experiencing slight stomach pain. He said he planned to undergo chemotherapy and immunotherapy.[121] In April 2025, Connolly announced that despite the initial success of his treatments, his cancer had returned; he added that he would be retiring at the end of his term.[122] He died at his Fairfax County home on May 21, 2025, at the age of 75.[123][2]

See also

References

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Further reading


source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerry_Connolly

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