Virginia Rep. Jennifer Wexton reveals Parkinson's Disease diagnosis but says its not a 'death sentence' and vows to continue serving her district

• Rep. Jennifer Wexton said Tuesday that she's been diagnosed with Parkinson's.
• The three-term Virginia Democrat plans to keep serving in Congress "for many years to come."

Rep. Jennifer Wexton went on the record about how bad Parkinson's Disease "sucks" on Tuesday, stressing that she wasn't going to allow a new medical diagnosis to derail her career in Congress.

"Parkinson's is not an untreatable disease, a cognitive impairment, or a death sentence. So please! You are welcome to empathize, but don't feel sorry for me," the three-term Virginia Democrat said in a video she posted online.

A former prosecutor and district court judge, the 54-year-old Weston beat former Republican Rep. Barbara Comstock by nearly 13 points in 2018. In November's midterm elections, she defeated GOP challenger Hung Cao by 6 points.

Wexton is currently a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee and a House Budget Committee panel member. She said she intends to keep at it "just like normal" on Capitol Hill.

"The treatment process is one that involves time and commitment, so you're going to see me have good days and some days that are not so good," she said. "But I want you to know this: my head and my heart are 100% committed to serving the people of Virginia, and especially my constituents in the 10th congressional district."

Retired Rep. Jose Serrano made a different call when he received the same diagnosis, electing not to run for reelection in 2020. Serrano was 75 years old at the time.

"Although this disease has not affected my work in Congress, over the last few months I've come to the realization that Parkinson's will eventually take a toll, and that I cannot predict its rate of advancement," the New York Democrat wrote in a press release.