WASHINGTON — Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia defeated Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York on Tuesday in the race for the top Democratic seat on the House Oversight Committee, as rank-and-file members backed the selection of more senior members of their caucuses. Ta. Challenge the second Trump administration, not young progressive stars.
According to a lawmaker present, the vote was 131 to 84 in a secret vote at the Democratic Party caucus meeting, which was held behind closed doors.
After the vote, Connolly told reporters that the most “qualified” candidate won.
“Again, my colleagues are measuring their votes by who has experience, who is experienced, who is trustworthy, who is competent, who has a track record of productivity. I think that’s why I won,” he said.
Connolly said he is “ready” to take on the Trump administration despite recent health issues. Connolly added that while President-elect Donald Trump may feel more “emboldened,” it could also make him more “reckless.”
“There is a law in this country and we are going to make sure it is enforced,” he said.
Ocasio-Cortez wrote on the social media site Blue Sky on Tuesday: “I did my best. I’m disappointed I couldn’t convince everyone. We live to fight another day.”
The House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, which works closely with Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, voted 34-27 on Monday to favor Connolly over Ocasio-Cortez, the people said. supported.
The position comes after Democratic Oversight Committee leader Jamie Raskin of Maryland challenged Jerry Nadler of New York for a similar position on the Judiciary Committee, prompting Nadler to resign. It was vacant because of that.
The Democratic caucus also approved other steering committee recommendations on Tuesday. Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota became the top Democrat on the Agriculture Committee, defeating Rep. Jim Costa of California, the second-ranking member. She received 34 votes at Monday’s steering committee meeting, beating two rivals on the first ballot. Costa received 22 votes, while Georgia’s David Scott, who has held the top agricultural position since 2021, received just five votes.
The steering committee recommended Jared Huffman of California over the more junior Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico to be the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee. The vote was 44-17, with Stansberry withdrawing from the race and the full caucus on Tuesday electing Huffman to the post.
The competition for committee members was seen as a litmus test for the future of the Democratic Party’s seniority system, as young lawmakers seek new blood and generational change in the leadership.
However, this week’s results were mixed on this question.
Mr Connolly, 74, is a senior member of the Oversight Committee and was first elected to Congress in 2008. He rejected a challenge from Ocasio-Cortez, 35, despite announcing last month that she had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer. A progressive hero who was first elected in 2018.
Senior Democrats also won steering committee support in the natural resources race. Huffman, 60, who was elected in 2012 and will be the second-senior Democrat on the committee next year, will be the second senior Democrat on the committee next year, compared to Stansberry, 45, who is a relative junior on the committee and won a special election in 2021. broke.
Huffman’s elevation to Ranking Member will give Natural Resources a younger Democratic leader than before. Earlier, Huffman launched a surprise challenge to Arizona’s Raul Grijalva, 76, who was elected to Congress in 2002 and has been the top Democrat on the committee since 2015.
However, the young rebels won the agricultural competition. Mr. Craig, 52, a Democratic “frontliner” and one of the committee’s oldest members, is competing with Mr. Scott, the 79-year-old incumbent who was first elected in 1982 and has long suffered from health problems, and one other person. Mr. Costa, a senior committee member, was kicked out. He was 72 years old and a third-generation farmer, second in seniority to Scott.
“I’m ready to help bring back rural Americans and, with them, a strong Democratic majority,” Craig said after the vote.
At the same time, many Democratic leaders heading other committees will face no challenges and will likely retain their coveted jobs in the next Congress.
Maxine Waters, 86, of California will be elected for two more years as the top Democrat on the Financial Services Committee, and Gregory Meeks, 71, of New York will remain the top Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee. Bennie Thompson, 76, of Mississippi will remain the ranking member on the Homeland Security Committee, and Nydia Velasquez, 71, of New York will remain the top Democrat on the Small Business Committee.
Democrats will remain in the minority when the new Congress begins in January, but party committee leaders will wield vast oversight powers if they regain the House majority in the 2026 midterm elections.
