Rep. Charlie Norwood [3] (R-Ga.), a seven-term congressman from Georgia’s 10th Congressional District, died Tuesday of cancer at age 65. Several weeks after his victory in the 2006 congressional elections [4], Norwood developed a new round of health problems and returned to Georgia for hospice care last week.

Norwood, who worked as a dentist before his election to Congress, was perhaps best known for his support of a Patients' Bill of Rights, a position at odds with many congressional Republicans. On two occasions during his tenure, the House passed legislation achieving this aim, though it was never reconciled with the Senate. On Monday, the day before his death, Norwood introduced the bill again in the House, where many believe it will receive serious consideration this session [5]. Norwood also held strong views on illegal immigration, calling the current situation at the U.S.-Mexico border a “true invasion.” Reflecting this view, he co-wrote a provision in the 2005 Deficit Reduction Act which barred illegal immigrants from receiving Medicaid services. Norwood also received attention last summer as one of thirty-three House members to oppose the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which he saw as discriminatory towards southern states.

In order to fill Norwood’s seat, Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) must issue a writ of election in the next ten days allowing the Georgia secretary of state’s office to set a date for a special election. The election must then occur within thirty days of the writ. If no candidate receives at least fifty percent of the vote, a runoff election will then take place within the following four weeks.

President Bush [6], who extended best wishes to the ailing Norwood during his State of the Union Address [7] last month, called Norwood "a good friend and a strong, spirited legislator who always stuck to his principles."