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Texas Rep. Ron Wright, a 67-year-old Republican from Arlington, died Sunday from COVID-19, according to a statement from his congressional office. He is the first sitting member of Congress to die of the virus.

Wright and his wife, Susan, had been admitted to Baylor Hospital in Dallas two weeks ago after testing positive.

Today I am deeply saddened by the loss of a good man and one of my closest friends in Congress, Ron Wright, U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, an Austin Republican, said on Monday.

Roy said Wright has been battling cancer and felt like he was on the rebound.

The last text I got from Ron was just over a week ago, Roy said. He said still in hospital. But definitely improving.

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Like the rest of America, COVID-19 has placed strains on Congress as leaders have sought to still get the publics work done by altering long standing rules and procedures to try to limit the spread of the disease.

Wrights last vote, according to the House Clerks Office, was against impeaching President Donald Trump on Jan. 13. Wright was listed as not having voted in all of the 14 roll call votes from that day through Feb. 5.

In late January, Wright announced he had COVID-19.

I am experiencing minor symptoms, but overall, I feel OK and will continue working for the people of the 6th District from home this week, Wright said at the time. I encourage everyone to keep following CDC guidelines and want to thank all the medical professionals on the front lines who fight this virus head-on every single day.

Over 50 members of Congress have reported testing positive for the virus. Luke Letlow, a congressman-elect from Louisiana, died late last year.

The Democrat-controlled House began offering emergency proxy voting and remote hearings in May. And in November, Speaker Nancy Pelosi pushed for more testing of members of Congress who are frequently traveling back and forth between their home districts and Washington, D.C.

But some members have pushed back against some of the rules, including not wearing masks. During the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, members were sheltering in place as a violent mob stormed the building. Some House Republicans refused to wear masks even as members were clustered together in close quarters. After that event, several members quarantined and U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson, a New Jersey Democrat, tested positive.

Pelosi released a statement on Monday noting that Wrights death comes at a time when so many families have been forced to bury loved ones.

As we grieve Congressman Wrights passing, Members of Congress are united in sorrow and pray for the families and loved ones of the over 460,000 Americans who have been killed by the vicious coronavirus, she said. Each death is a tragedy that breaks our hearts and demands strong, urgent action.

Wrights death also comes as Congress is once again facing a stalemate over a third round of COVID relief. President Joe Biden has rolled out a $1.9 trillion package that calls for direct checks, money for school reopenings and funds for a robust vaccine effort. But Republicans have balked at the price tag.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican, lauded Wright for his passion in fighting for conservative causes.

For Ron, public service was more than a job, it was a calling, McCarthy said. The difference he was able to make over the past two decades will continue to live on in every life he impacted.

Wright has been in Congress since 2018 after serving previously as the Tarrant County tax assessor-collector. Before that, he served as a city councilman in Arlington from 2000 to 2008. The 6th Congressional District he represented includes southeastern sections of Tarrant County and reaches south into Ellis and Navarro counties.

Congressman Wright will be remembered as a constitutional conservative, a statement from his office said. He was a statesman, not an ideologue. Ron and Susan dedicated their lives to fighting for individual freedom, Texas values, and above all, the lives of the unborn.

Wright won the seat after former U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, a Republican, did not seek re-election after nearly two decades in Congress. Wright had served as a district director of Bartons congressional office and was Bartons chief of staff before he was elected as the tax assessor-collector.

Other members of Congress from Texas have battled COVID-19 recently. U.S Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, announced in early January he had tested positive for the virus, as did Rep. Kay Granger of Fort Worth. U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, last year was among those infected with the virus.

Texas has seen about 2.5 million confirmed coronavirus cases and over 38,100 people have died in the state. While Texas lab-confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations have dipped some since January 11, when the state reported a peak of 14,210 lab-confirmed patients; the state still reported over 9,400 people in hospitals statewide with the virus as of Monday night.

The last member of Congress from Texas to die in office was U.S. Rep. Frank Tejeda, a San Antonio Democrat, who died in 1997 after a year-long battle with brain cancer.

State law requires Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to set a special election to select a person to replace Wright in Congress.

jeremy.wallace@chron.com

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Texas Republican Ron Wright is first member of Congress to die from COVID-19 - Houston Chronicle