Virginia Democratic Rep. Jennifer Wexton said she will not seek reelection and will be retiring after receiving an update on her health.
While receiving treatment for Parkinson’s disease, Wexton received a modified diagnosis of progressive supranuclear palsy. PSP is a form of atypical parkinsonian syndrome, also known as a Parkinson-plus disorder.
After receiving this diagnosis, the congresswoman said that she will be retiring after the end of her term.
“I’m heartbroken to have to give up something I have loved after so many years of serving my community,” Wexton said in a statement. “But taking into consideration the prognosis for my health over the coming years, I have made the decision not to seek reelection once my term is complete and instead spend my valued time with Andrew, our boys, and my friends and loved ones.”
Wexton received the new diagnosis after feeling like she wasn’t responding well to treatment and noticing that the women in her Parkinson’s support group were having a different experience.
“I sought out additional medical opinions and testing, and my doctors modified my diagnosis to progressive supranuclear palsy – a kind of ‘Parkinson’s on steroids,'” she said.
PSP is a rare neurological disorder that affects body movements, walking and balance, and eye movements, according to the National Institutes of Health.
It’s often misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s disease, as the two disorders share many symptoms. Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness and difficulty with balance and coordination.
However, according to the NIH, PSP progresses more rapidly than Parkinson’s.
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia posted a picture of him and Wexton together after her announcement on Monday.
Kaine said she is an “amazing public servant” and he will be keeping her in his prayers.
When I think of Jennifer Wexton, I think of this photo of her, as Wonder Woman on Halloween in 2018. She is an amazing public servant, listener, and fighter for her constituents. I will miss her terribly in Congress and I’ll be keeping her in my prayers. pic.twitter.com/d58do0ktVY
— Tim Kaine (@timkaine) September 18, 2023
Virginia Rep. Jennifer McClellan said she considers Wexton a “big sister” to her when she first joined the state senate and that she was a major part of her decision to run for Congress.
“Jennifer now faces her toughest fight, which I know she will face with the same tenacity and dignity that has fueled her public service,” McClellan said. “I look forward to working with her as she continues to serve the Tenth District in the 118th Congress. We still have more work to do together.”
Wexton, 54, is a former state senator and prosecutor before she was elected to Congress in 2018. She defeated Republican Rep. Barbara Comstock with 56% of the vote to represent Virginia’s 10th Congressional District, which is centered in Loudoun County.
She is currently serving her third term.
Wexton first revealed her Parkinson’s disease diagnosis on World Parkinson’s Day in April.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
