‘Gerry was a fighter': Lawmakers mourn death of Virginia Congressman Gerry Connolly
FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. () — Several lawmakers across the D.C. area are reflecting on the life of Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) after his familyhis death Wednesday morning.
Connolly, who was elected to Virginia's 11th District and served as the senior Democrat on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, died less than a month after announcing that he due to the return of his cancer.
Virginia Congressman Gerry Connolly dies nearly month after announcing plans to step down
He has held the seat for Virginia's 11th District, which includes Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax, since 2008, and was Before his election to Congress, he served on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for 14 years, including five years as chairman.
'My friend Gerry Connolly was a one of a kind public servant who never shied away from fighting for Northern Virginia and our country,' said Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) in a statement, regarding Connolly's death. 'I will miss his voice on the many issues that were lucky to benefit from his steadfast leadership, from delivering the congressional oversight the American people deserve and protecting NATO, to standing up for the many federal workers who call Virginia home and securing once-in-a-generation transportation infrastructure investments.'
'His legacy will live on through all that he accomplished throughout his decades of public service and the countless people he inspired along the way,' he continued.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) also recognized Connolly for his public service, referring to him as a 'giant in Virginia's public life' who will 'be deeply missed.'
'I cannot imagine the House without Gerry': Lawmakers react after Virginia Rep. Connolly says he wont seek reelection, citing health
'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, whether on the Fairfax Board of Supervisors or in Congress,' he said. 'He met every challenge with tenacity and purpose, including his final battle with cancer, which he faced with courage, grace, and quiet dignity.'
On the other side of the political aisle, Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin also took a moment to remember the congressman, emphasizing that his decades of public service reflect a deep commitment to the state.
'Suzanne and I send our heartfelt prayers to his family, friends, and all who mourn his loss,' Youngkin said,
Across state lines, Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) acknowledged not only Connolly's advocacy but also his fight against cancer, which each year.
'As a fellow cancer survivor, I understand the strength it takes to fight that battle, and Gerry faced it with resolve and grace,' Ivey said, in part, in on X. 'His legacy of public service, from defending civil servants to pushing for a more just immigration system, will continue to inspire us.'
Also , Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) called the news 'heartbreaking.'
'I've had the good fortune of working with Gerry in different capacities for over 40 yrs,' wrote Van Hollen. 'Much changed during that time, but one thing was constant: Gerry was always an unafraid fighter for the common good at home & abroad.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
What are Canada's governing Liberals going to do about AI?
Fresh off his election victory, Prime Minister Mark Carney has been focused on standing up to Donald Trump's claims on Canada as the 51st state and American tariffs. But while that political drama unfolds, one topic that seems to have quietly slipped under the radar is the rise of artificial intelligence. Despite its transformative impact on everything from jobs to national security, AI received surprisingly little attention during the campaign and in the first weeks following Carney's victory. The consequences of that lack of attention are already starting to show, as emissions and electricity costs continue unabated without a clear vision of where AI fits in. Read more: Although Carney has appointed former journalist Evan Solomon as Canada's first-ever AI minister, it's not yet clear what action the Liberal government plans to take on AI. The Liberals' 'Canada Strong' plan outlining the prime minister's proposals is scarce on details. Still, it provides some clues on how the Liberals see AI and what they believe it offers to the Canadian economy — and also what they seem to have misunderstood. First, the plan includes some robust initiatives for improving Canada's digital infrastructure, which lags behind other leading countries, especially in terms of rural broadband and reliable cell service. To accomplish these goals, the Liberals say they'll incentivize investment by 'introducing flow-through shares to our Canadian startup ecosystem…to raise money faster' for AI and other technologies. In other words, they will reuse the model of mining and oil companies whereby investors can claim a tax deduction for the same amount as their investment. A major question is whether Canada's investment ecosystem has enough big players willing to take these risks. The plan gets less promising as it comes to the implementation of AI within 'the economy of tomorrow.' The Liberals say they plan to build more data centres, improve computing capacity and create digital supply chain solutions 'to improve efficiency and reduce costs for Canadians.' All that that sounds OK — so far. But how will they do this? The Liberals plan to establish the Bureau of Research, Engineering and Advanced Leadership in Science (BOREALIS), linking AI development directly to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Communications Security Establishment Canada, which provides the federal government with information technology security and foreign signals intelligence. This approach to AI is focused on what it offers to Canada's defence, whether by manufacturing semiconductors or improving intelligence gathering, so that it can rely less on the U.S. Similarly, Canadian defence tech firms will access funding to help reduce dependence on American suppliers and networks. The Liberals are pledging sovereignty and autonomy for Canada's defence and security, all enabled by 'the construction and development of AI infrastructure.' What goes unsaid is the intense power needs of data centres, and the consequences for emissions and climate action of 'building the next generation of data centres' in Canada. New data centres cannot be built without also constructing more renewable energy infrastructure, and none of this addresses emissions or climate change. If the centres crop up in big numbers as planned, Canadians could also see their electricity costs go up or become less reliable. That's because finding space within the existing grid is not as easy as it may sound when AI data centres require over 100 megawatts (MW) of electricity demand versus five to 10 MW for a regular centre. With the rapidly evolving market for AI-based data centres, Canadian policymakers need to provide clear guidance to utilities in terms of their current decisions on competing industrial-scale demands. As the Canadian Climate Institute points out: 'Anything less risks higher rates, increased emissions, missed economic opportunities — or all of the above.' So far, the Liberal plan fails to address any of these concerns. What else does the 'economy of tomorrow' hold? Apparently, it means more efficient government. According to the Liberal plan, AI 'is how government improves service delivery, it is how government keeps up with the speed of business, and it is how government maximizes efficiency and reduces cost.' Despite otherwise clashing with the Trump administration, this language is reminiscent of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has also centred its use of AI. Read more: The Liberals will open an Office of Digital Transformation, which aims to get rid of red tape and 'reduce barriers for businesses to operate in Canada.' They don't seem to really know what this would actually look like, however. They say: 'This could mean using AI to address government service backlogs and improve service delivery times, so that Canadians get better services, faster.' Their fiscal plan points out that this frame of thinking applies to every single expenditure: 'We will look at every new dollar being spent through the lens of how AI and technology can improve service and reduce costs.' The economy will also benefit, the government argues, from AI commercialization, with $46 million pegged over the next four years to connect AI researchers with businesses. This would work alongside a tax credit for small and medium-sized businesses to 'leverage AI to boost their bottom lines, create jobs, and support existing employees.' But a new report by Orgvue, the organizational design and planning software platform, shows that over half of businesses that rushed to impose AI just ended up making their employees redundant without clear gains in productivity. Creating a tax credit for smaller companies to introduce AI seems like a recipe for repeating the same mistake. Much of the Liberal plan seems to involve taking risks. There's a shortsightedness on this rapidly advancing technology that requires significant guardrails. The government seem to view AI as a solutions machine, buying into the hype around it without taking the time to understand it. As policy is properly hashed out in the weeks and months to come, the Liberals' feet will have to be held to the fire on the issue of AI. Canadians must benefit from its limited uses and be protected from its abuses. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organisation bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Jake Pitre, Concordia University Read more: Canada has a chance to lead on AI policy and data governance at the 2025 G7 Leaders' Summit Artificial intelligence should not be allowed to adjudicate cases in Canada's Federal Court AI and criminal justice: How AI can support — not undermine — justice Jake Pitre does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Business Insider
an hour ago
- Business Insider
BlackRock, State Street to urge dismissal of collusion case, Bloomberg says
BlackRock (BLK), Vanguard Group, and the asset management arm of State Street (STT) are headed to court over a lawsuit brought by Republican state attorneys general claiming they colluded to reduce coal output, Josh Sisco and Silla Brush of Bloomberg reports. Lawyers from the companies are set to urge a federal judge to dismiss the case. The suit claims the firm have large stakes in coal producers and profited when energy prices soared. Confident Investing Starts Here:
Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Who's that knocking at your door? It's Anthony Weiner on a comeback tour
NEW YORK (AP) — Imagine this: You're home for the evening, winding down. There's a knock at the door. Who's there? It's Anthony Weiner. And he wants your vote. Yes, that Weiner: The guy whose once-promising political career was derailed by sexting scandals and then seemingly ended forever when he was imprisoned for sending sexually explicit messages to a 15-year-old girl. But now Weiner's hoping to convince enough voters in lower Manhattan that he deserves yet another chance in a comeback bid for a seat on the New York City Council. On a recent weekday at an apartment complex in the Lower East Side, the former congressman, 60, was knocking on doors, reintroducing himself to voters and reminding them about the election. And, on this Thursday at least, the would-be constituents aren't slamming their doors in the registered sex offender's face . 'It's Anthony Weiner!' the candidate said after knocking on a door. A man opens the door, his face lighting up with surprise. 'It is Anthony Weiner!' the man said, a big smile spreading across his face. After some pleasantries and a reminder about the race, the man had an important question for the candidate: 'Mind if I get a picture with you?' And so it went as Weiner walked down floor after floor, knocking on doors. A quick hello here, a fast thank you there. Campaign literature flowed into hands. People seemed happy to see him. It isn't always this friendly. Weiner said he still struggles with how to speak about his scandal, calling it the 'fundamental, unsolvable problem of the campaign.' 'Sometimes it's with like real painful, kind of, honesty about what happened and sometimes it's a little bit defensive, and sometimes, like, a woman at this street fair last week, she's like, 'I love you and I'm going to vote for you, but I voted for you before and how can I ever trust you?'' he said. But, he notes, some people would rather talk about anything else. 'They're like, 'I don't want to hear about that. I want to hear about me and I want to hear about how come there aren't cops on the street and I want to hear about why my taxes are so high,'' he said. From Congress to prison Weiner, a brash and ambitious politician whose New York accent and wily, kinetic style made for solid theater on the House floor, was once someone worth watching in the Democratic Party. Back then, he represented a district in parts of Brooklyn and Queens. His latest return to the political stage — this time for a City Council seat that covers Union Square and the East Village — pits him against state lawmaker Harvey Epstein, whose name's unfortunate proximity to convicted sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein inspired a 'Saturday Night Live' bit , along with a handful of other low-key candidates. The primary, on June 24, is considered the defining contest of the election, given the district's heavy Democratic bent. It's hard to know how it'll turn out in a low-turnout, early-summer primary where there's no deep political polling. The comeback attempt comes more than a decade after his career imploded for sending a lewd picture of himself to a college student over Twitter in 2011. He first tried to claim his account was hacked but eventually admitted to having inappropriate online interactions with at least six other women and resigned from Congress after serving there for more than a decade. After leaving Washington, Weiner mounted a campaign for New York City mayor but was again undone after it was disclosed that he sent explicit photos under the alias 'Carlos Danger' to at least one woman after leaving the House. The revelation tanked his mayoral bid. Along the way, his marriage collapsed. In 2017, his scandal entered the criminal realm after prosecutors said he had illicit online contact with a high school student. During the proceedings, Weiner's lawyer said he probably exchanged thousands of messages with hundreds of women over the years and had been communicating with up to 19 women when he encountered the student. He eventually pleaded guilty to transferring obscene material to a minor and was sentenced to 21 months in prison. He was required to register as a sex offender after his release in 2019. Since then, he's worked as the CEO of a countertop company in Brooklyn and hosted a radio show where he would muse about politics, eventually finding himself ginning up his own ideas and wondering: Why not get back in the game? He opened a campaign account and donations started flowing in. He'd go out on the street and people wanted to sign his petitions. 'I knew I had things I wanted to say and I knew that I thought it was important that everyone try to do something at this point,' he said. The elephant in the room Still, his scandals are so much an elephant in the room that his campaign recently started circulating a mailer that, on one side, features a massive elephant alongside the text 'Anthony Weiner knows you may have questions.' On the other side, a note from Weiner reads: 'Since I am asking you for your vote again, I want to address the elephant in the room.' It goes on: 'I accepted responsibility, I did my time (literally) and paid my debt to society in full.' A man who answered one of Weiner's door knocks told the candidate that he saw the mailer and said it was a smart move to address the scandals head-on. The two then dove into political issues, chatting about crime, the subway and homeless people. As the conversation was coming in for a landing, the man told Weiner that showing up at his door to speak with him showed that he cared. He declined to give his name to an Associated Press reporter who approached him after Weiner had said goodbye and taken off down a flight of stairs. After a few more meet-and-greets, Weiner wrapped up for the day. He left he complex, hopped on a bicycle and zipped off down the street. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
