Press S to spit on grave
Rep. Ron Wright, a Texas Republican, died Sunday after testing positive for the coronavirus, his campaign announced in a statement on Monday. He is the first sitting member of Congress to die after being diagnosed with the virus.
Wright, 67, said last month he began a quarantine on Jan. 15 after coming into contact with an individual who had the virus a week earlier. He said he tested positive for the virus the following week on Jan. 21.
A statement issued through Wright's campaign office said his wife, Susan Wright, was by his side at the time of his death and that he passed away peacefully.
"Ron and Susan Wright shared a deep and abiding relationship with their Lord and Savior. For that reason, Ron remained stoic in the face of his health challenges and incredibly upbeat about the future of the state and the nation he loved so much," the statement said.
Wright, who was serving his second term in the House, marks the first member of Congress to die of the illness. Wright had been treated for cancer for several years, according to his office.
"Over the past few years, Congressman Wright had kept a rigorous work schedule on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives and at home in Texas' Congressional District 6 while being treated for cancer. For the previous two weeks, Ron and Susan had been admitted to Baylor Hospital in Dallas after contracting COVID-19," the statement from his office said.
More than 50 members of Congress have tested positive for the illness, along with more than 360 Capitol Hill workers. A Florida member's aide also died last summer.
In December, Louisiana Rep.-elect Luke Letlow, a 41-year-old Republican who was diagnosed with COVID-19, died, before the House reconvened in January after the 2020 election and swore in the members for the 117th session of Congress.