Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly defeated New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Tuesday in the race to become the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, with rank-and-file lawmakers opting for a more senior member of the caucus to challenge the second Trump administration over a rising progressive figure.
In a closed-door Democratic caucus meeting, the secret-ballot vote was 131 to 84, according to a lawmaker present.
Following the vote, Connolly told reporters that the most “capable” candidate had prevailed.
“Again, I think my colleagues were measuring their votes by who’s got experience, who’s seasoned, who can be trusted, who’s capable, and who’s got a record of productivity. I think that prevailed,” he said.
Connolly emphasized that he is “ready” to take on a Trump administration, despite his recent health challenges. He added that President-elect Donald Trump may feel more “emboldened,” which, in Connolly’s view, could also make him more “reckless.”
“There is a law in this land, and we’re going to make sure it’s enforced,” Connolly said.
Please rewrite: The vote came a day after the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, which is closely aligned with Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., backed Connolly over Ocasio-Cortez in a 34 to 27 vote, according to a source.
The position opened up after the top Democrat on Oversight, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., challenged Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., for a similar post on the Judiciary Committee, prompting Nadler to bow out.
The full Democratic caucus also ratified other steering panel recommendations on Tuesday. Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota was elected to be the top Democrat on the Agriculture Committee, beating Rep. Jim Costa of California, the second-most senior member of the panel. A day earlier in the steering committee, she secured 34 votes and beat out her two rivals on the first ballot— Costa got 22 votes, and Rep. David Scott of Georgia, who has held the top agriculture job since 2021, got just five.
For the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee, the steering committee recommended Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., over the more junior Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M. The vote was 44 to 17. Stansbury then dropped out of the race, and the full caucus elected Huffman to the post on Tuesday.
The races for committee ranking member posts had been seen as a litmus test about the future of seniority in the Democratic Party as younger lawmakers clamored for new blood and generational change in the leadership.
