With Scott's death, 5 members of current Congress have died in office
Summary
Five members of the current U.S. Congress have died while still in office since January 2025. These members served in the House of Representatives and were between 65 and 80 years old.Key Facts
- Democratic Rep. David Scott of Georgia died at 80; he served in Congress since 2002 and was the first Black chair of the House Agriculture Committee.
- Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa of California died at 65 during surgery in January 2026; he was known for supporting rural and farming issues.
- Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia died in May 2025 after announcing he would not seek reelection due to cancer.
- Democratic Rep. Raúl Grijalva of Arizona died in March 2025 after battling cancer; he had been absent from votes early in the 119th Congress.
- Democratic Rep. Sylvester Turner of Texas died in March 2025 shortly after starting his term; he was previously Houston’s mayor from 2016 to 2024.
- The 119th Congress began with many members over age 70, and the deaths reduce the already narrow majority held by Republicans in the House.
- These deaths affect the balance of power in the House, where small changes in membership can influence whether laws pass.
- During the previous 118th Congress, four members also died in office, including Senator Dianne Feinstein, who served until age 90.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.