A statement from Joel’s family
Wednesday, April 15th, 2026
It is with great sadness that we share the news that our stepfather, Joel Connelly, died this morning, peacefully, with his immediate family by his side.
Many of you know Joel had been struggling with his health these past few years, but as he would quickly note: “Above the shoulders, I’m just fine.” One of his goals was to keep on writing, with particular focus on saving our democracy. He was writing up to the day his body failed him.
We are sorry that he wasn’t able to accomplish his other goal, hoping to witness the Trump regime’s demise.
We are working on plans for a celebration of his life and a memorial service, and will provide updates once we have more details to share.
Thank you for the many thoughts and prayers we’ve received from near and far.
— Melissa, Aaron and Bellamy Pailthorp
Gallery: Joel in action through the years
Recent posts on NPI’s Cascadia Advocate and Post Alley
- Will Alaska be a Pickup for Senate Democrats?
by Joel Connelly on April 15th, 2026 at 12:22 PMA survey by Public Policy Polling shows Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan trailing Democratic challenger Mary Peltola by two points.
- Powered by Trump: Canada’s Liberals Win Back their Majority
by Joel Connelly on April 13th, 2026 at 12:58 PMThanks to Trump’s unpopularity and the defections of some to the center-left Liberals, PM Mark Carney now holds majority power.
- A “Recurring American Affliction”
by Joel Connelly on April 12th, 2026 at 12:48 PMThe Trump administration is restoring obstacles that Black citizens had to circumnavigate to gain rights of citizenship.
- Trump Class Coin: Dear Leader Everywhere
by Joel Connelly on April 8th, 2026 at 12:50 PMAs our democracy celebrates its 250th birthday, Donald Trump is thrusting himself at us. Our new Gilded Age is taking on indisputable tackiness.
- Blue Wave Building? Ohio’s Amy Acton
by Joel Connelly on April 4th, 2026 at 1:08 PMAmy Acton, former director of Ohio’s Department of Health, is campaigning about restoring health to the Buckeye State’s Democrats, who have lately fallen on hard times.