Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-Va.) announced Tuesday that she has Parkinson’s disease, sharing her diagnosis on a day designated to raise awareness about the disease and relaying that she is doing well and feeling good despite the onset of some symptoms.
“If there’s one thing that Democrats and Republicans can agree on, it’s that Parkinson’s disease sucks,” Wexton said in a video. “Today, on World Parkinson’s Day, I’m here to tell you that I’ve come to learn this firsthand. And that’s because I’ve learned that I, too, have Parkinson’s.”
Wexton, 54, shared that the disease — a progressive neurological condition that she described as a movement disorder — has primarily affected her speech over the past few months.
“You may notice I speak more quickly now,” she said. “It also has affected how I walk and keep my balance.”
While there is no cure for the disease, Parkinson’s can be treated with medication to reduce the severity of symptoms, which affect the nervous system and can include tremors, slowed movement and rigid muscles, and changes in speech, according to the Mayo Clinic. Though the exact causes are unknown, Parkinson’s typically affects people age 60 and older, according to the clinic.
Wexton was first elected to Congress from a competitive Northern Virginia district in 2018, defeating Republican incumbent Barbara Comstock. She prevailed last year in her most recent election with 53 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Hung Cao, as Republicans narrowly took control of the House.
Wexton said she has no plans to leave public life.
“[I’m] doing what I love and what I’ve spent more than two decades of my life doing: helping others through public service, as a prosecutor, a judge, a state senator and now as a representative in Congress,” she said. “I hope to keep serving you for many years to come.”
This is hard news for anyone to get, but @RepWexton is strong and is facing it with courage. I am proud to call her a friend and to serve with her, and I look forward to continuing to do so. All the best to you and your family from Megan and me, we’re behind you Jennifer! https://t.co/cz7w7vX09o
— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) April 11, 2023
Wexton’s colleagues in Congress and across Virginia responded with an outpouring of support Tuesday, with her neighbor in the Northern Virginia congressional delegation, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D), calling her announcement “the very definition of strength.”
“Jennifer is a beloved member of the caucus and a champion for Virginia,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) wrote on Twitter. “She is also a fighter and I commend her commitment to raising awareness of Parkinson’s. We will be with her every step of the way.”
Some of her former rivals sent well wishes, too, including Comstock, who wrote on Twitter, “Prayers and strength to @RepWexton in her battle with Parkinson’s Disease and bringing commitment and attention to the search for a cure.”
“I know she’s going to continue to be a strong fighter to battle Parkinson’s and to stand up for Virginia’s 10th district,” Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said in a statement. “I’m rooting for her every step of the way.”
Wexton said she is continuing to focus on her congressional duties, including crafting legislation, traveling around her district and hosting constituent service events. Since taking office in 2019, Wexton has used her platform in Congress to advocate for legislation on gun safety, LGBTQ rights — as the aunt of a transgender child — and against domestic violence, as a former prosecutor, among other things.
She said Tuesday that she would be adding another priority to her list: Parkinson’s awareness.
“I want to use my platform to be a voice for those struggling with Parkinson’s to help bring greater resources to the search for a cure,” she said.