JOhn,

By now, some of you will have seen the news about my plans for 2024. I wanted to take a couple of minutes to reach out to all of you who have been a part of Team Wexton – to share my endless gratitude, explain my decision, and reflect upon my time in Congress.

Back in April, I shared that I had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. At the time, I made the decision to carry on with my Congressional work and political activity. My doctors believed that my condition would not stop me from performing my duties in Congress, and my goal was to stay in office for years to come.

During the months that followed, as my symptoms worsened, I sought additional medical opinions and was given an updated diagnosis of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). It is a rare neurological disorder that is often mistaken for Parkinson’s in its early stages– but while both are progressive degenerative diseases, PSP develops far more rapidly.

After some difficult and honest conversations with my family and doctors, I’ve concluded that juggling the realities of a re-election campaign in a tough district while managing the symptoms of my PSP is not feasible for me. It’s with a heavy heart – yet also a deep appreciation for the privilege I’ve been granted by the people of Virginia’s 10th District – that I will be retiring from Congress at the end of my current term.

I entered politics to make a positive difference in people’s lives. And in the nearly five years I’ve served in Congress, I’m proud to have been able to help pass historic legislation that lowered the cost of healthcare, created jobs, rescued industries, provided relief when the American people needed it most, and jumpstarted clean energy production, semiconductor manufacturing, and new infrastructure.

I plan to dedicate my final 15 months in Congress toward further progress. I hope to use my platform to raise awareness of PSP and other rare diseases. I’ll work tirelessly to protect human rights, the livelihoods of the federal workers in my district, women’s reproductive autonomy, and the tenets that uphold our democracy. And most immediately, I will continue to aid downballot candidates in the elections this fall that will decide the future of the Commonwealth.

Ever since I first announced my candidacy for Virginia’s 10th District in 2017, so many of you have welcomed me into your communities – even into your homes. Every conversation and interaction we have had made me appreciate public service more. Together, we have made a difference, and I know that the successes we have achieved will last for years to come and provide a blueprint for future leaders to build from.

I wish that I could serve longer. But being able to serve at all has been the highest honor of my life. And it was people like you that made it all the more worth it.

To my family, to my staff, and to all my supporters: thank you for everything.

Sincerely,

Jennifer