Congressman Ron Wright dies after COVID-19 diagnosis
U.S. Rep. Ron Wright, R-Texas, died Sunday following a weeks-long battle with COVID-19, according to multiple reports. He was 67.
Family members and a spokesperson for Wright confirmed his death Monday to The Dallas Morning News. He is the first member of Congress to die of COVID-19.
“Congressman Wright will be remembered as a constitutional conservative. He was a statesman, not an ideologue,” officials with Wright’s office said in a statement obtained by the Morning News.
“Ron and (his wife) Susan dedicated their lives to fighting for individual freedom, Texas values, and above all, the lives of the unborn. As friends, family, and many of his constituents will know, Ron maintained his quick wit and optimism until the very end. Despite years of painful, sometimes debilitating treatment for cancer, Ron never lacked the desire to get up and go to work, to motivate those around him, or to offer fatherly advice.”
Last month, Wright said in a statement that he tested positive for COVID-19 after coming into contact with a person who had the viral infection. He said Jan. 21 that he was experiencing “minor symptoms” but that he felt well enough overall.
In September, Wright was hospitalized for complications related to a battle with lung cancer, The Associated Press reported. He had been reelected to his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in November.
In a statement released after Wright’s death, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., remembered him as “a proud sixth-generation son of Tarrant County, who dedicated a life of public service to the people of Texas.”
“While his tenure in the House was brief, his service will be missed,” she said. “May it be a comfort to Congressman Wright’s wife Susan, their children Rachel, Derek and Justin, and their nine grandchildren, and the entire Wright family that so many mourn their loss and are praying for them at this sad time.”
In December, Luke Letlow died just days before he was set to join the U.S. House of Representatives as a newly elected member from Louisiana.
>> Related: Newly elected Rep. Luke Letlow of Louisiana dies from COVID-19
Wright is survived by his wife, Susan; his daughter, Rachel; his sons, Derek and Justin; and nine grandchildren.
