Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi is reportedly working behind the scenes to crush Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s dream of taking a powerful Democratic House position in the new Congress.
The 35-year-old progressive Squad member is seeking to become the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee after serving as a deputy ranking member.
But she would have to defeat Virginia Congressman Gerry Connelly, who also launched his own bid for the Supreme Committee position.
Their confrontation pits Democrats for a generational battle between the millennial member of Congress and the 74-year-old lawmaker who has served in the House of Representatives since 2009.
Pelosi may no longer be in Democratic House leadership, but she still wields enormous power and has publicly endorsed Connolly for the position.
Behind the scenes, the 84-year-old California Democrat was even reportedly making calls on Connolly’s behalf, according to a new report in Punchbowl News.
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi is reportedly making calls in support of Rep. Gerry Connelly to become the House Oversight Committee Ranking Member over Rep. AOC
As Connolly tries to become a top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, he announced days after the election last month that he had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer.
The congressman said he would undergo chemotherapy, but he was confident of a successful outcome.
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.
Current House Oversight Committee member Jamie Raskin is vying for the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, where current ranking member Jerry Nadler is no longer running.
When Nadler announced he would not attempt to remain in the top position, he backed Raskin, paving the way for a smooth transition.
All 215 members of the House of Representatives will vote by secret ballot on who will fill the top positions on the committee for the new Congress.
Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) launched a bid earlier this month to become a ranking member of the House Oversight Committee
House Oversight Committee Member Jamie Raskin Wants to Become the Top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee in the New Congress
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 offered its own praise of the former speaker for “passing the torch” to Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.