- Nancy Pelosi worked against AOC getting the coveted role in the new Congress
Democrats recommended that Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) be appointed to the party’s top role on the powerful House Oversight Committee.
It’s an insult to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who also wanted the position of influence.
During a closed-door meeting of the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, the panel voted 34 to 27 for Connolly over Oasio-Cortez.
All 215 Democrats in the House of Representatives are expected to hold a full caucus vote Tuesday morning by secret ballot on the recommendations, which typically determine where the party will lean.
However, there have been instances where the party has overruled the panels’ vote.
It is unlikely that they would break with the will of the group closely associated with Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) in favor of a progressive member of the so-called “squad.”
The position for the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee opened after Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) challenged and ultimately ousted Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) for the top position on the Judiciary Committee.
The choice of Connolly, 74, shows a preference for a more established and much more senior member of the Democratic Caucus to take the lead on the highly influential panel. Connolly has been a member of the House of Representatives since 2009.
The House of Representatives’ powerful Democratic Steering Committee voted Monday to recommend that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez not win the party’s top spot on the Oversight Committee.
Instead, they recommended that Rep. Gery Connolly be given the powerful role in the new Congress. The full Democratic Caucus will vote Tuesday morning on who will represent them in the top oversight role
The Democratic Party will no longer have power in any branch of government as of January 2025.
The Steering Committee’s decision came after former Speaker Nancy Pelosi worked behind the scenes to cast doubt on Ocasio-Cortez’s dream of taking a powerful position in the House of Representatives in the 119th Congress.
The 35-year-old was previously a vice ranking member.
Pelosi may no longer be in charge of the House of Representatives, but she still wields enormous power and publicly endorsed Connolly for the position.
The 84-year-old California Democrat reportedly made the call on Connolly’s behalf.
Last month, Connolly revealed days after the 2024 election that he had been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer.
The congressman said he will undergo chemotherapy treatment.
AOC first indicated earlier this month that she was “interested” in making a bid for a ranking member and said she spoke with colleagues before formalizing her bid.
While Democrats are in the minority again this new year, whoever serves as a senior member of the committee could have enormous power if Democrats regain the majority in the midterm elections.
Retaking the House of Representatives would give them the ability to subpoena Trump administration officials as they conduct investigations.
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, who is no longer in a leadership role but still has enormous influence in the Democratic Caucus, reportedly worked behind the scenes against AOC obtaining the Oversight position
Pelosi and AOC have been doing a delicate dance since the progressive New York congressman came to Washington after a surprise upset in the ousting of a powerful Democratic incumbent during the 2018 primaries.
Ocasio-Cortez was among a group of protesters who stormed Pelosi’s office in October 2018, urging action on climate change.
But Pelosi has also publicly praised the high-profile young congressman and downplayed reports of their past feud.
Earlier this year, AOC praised the former speaker for “passing the torch” to Minority Leader Jeffries.