Democrat Rep Jennifer Wexton Announces Parkinson’s Diagnosis, Will Continue Working in Congress

April 12, 2023
Democratic Representative Jennifer Wexton of Virginia announced on Tuesday that she has been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.
Screenshot: Twitter Video - @RepWexton

Democratic Representative Jennifer Wexton of Virginia announced on Tuesday that she has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.

She made the announcement via a video posted to Twitter.

“If there’s one thing that Democrats and Republicans can agree on, it’s that Parkinson’s disease sucks,” she said, a sentiment we indeed all can agree on.

“Today, on World Parkinson’s Day, I’m here to tell you that I’ve come to learn this firsthand,” Wexton continued. “And that’s because I’ve learned that I, too, have Parkinson’s, or what some people call PD for short.”

Wexton is a young 54-years of age.

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Rep Jennifer Wexton Vows to Serve For Years to Come

During her announcement, Rep. Jennifer Wexton told supporters what Parkinson’s Disease entails and asked people not to feel “sorry for me.”

“What Parkinson’s is not is an untreatable disease, a cognitive impairment, or a death sentence,” she said.

And on that note, she vowed to continue her work in Congress for quite some time.

Wexton announced that she has been working with her doctors on a treatment plan and has remained focused on her tasks as a congresswoman, “all just like normal.”

“I’m not going to let Parkinson’s stop me from being me,” she continued.

“I am confident that as I work with my doctor to get the treatment I need, I can continue being a working mom and an active member of our community.”

Wexton pointed out that she plans “to keep serving you for many years to come.”

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Another Democrat Retired in 2019 After Learning He Had Parkinson’s

Rep. Jennifer Wexton becomes the second Democrat House member in recent years to announce a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease.

Jose Serrano, a former Democrat lawmaker from New York, announced he had been diagnosed with the disease in 2019 and would retire at the end of his term in 2021.

Serrano said at the time that he initially planned to keep working but had “come to the realization that Parkinson’s will eventually take a toll, and that I cannot predict its rate of advancement.”

The uncertainty of his medical future led to his resignation.

Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman has also been working through serious health issues, though his have clearly been detrimental to his cognitive abilities as well as the physical.

Prior to being elected, Fetterman (D) had experienced a stroke which left him quite obviously troubled in the realm of communication.

Fetterman was hospitalized overnight just one month into his term, while reports surfaced that he was struggling to adapt to life in the Senate, hearing voices that sound like the teacher in the “Peanuts” cartoons and requiring colleagues to adjust to his “special needs.”

He lost a significant amount of time being treated for severe clinical depression earlier this year.

The Virginia Democrat points out that “the treatment process (for Parkinson’s) is one that involves time and commitment” and that she will have good days and bad days.

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By Rusty Weiss

Rusty Weiss has been covering politics for over 15 years. His writings have appeared in the Daily Caller, Fox... More about Rusty Weiss

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