Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York is weighing a second run for the highest Democratic seat on the highly effective Home Oversight Committee after Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia introduced that he’s stepping down because of a recurrence of esophageal most cancers.
The 75-year-old mentioned Monday that this will probably be his remaining time period in Congress. He at present serves because the committee’s rating Democrat, and his departure opens up probably the most influential roles within the Home, particularly with President Donald Trump within the White Home.
Ocasio-Cortez challenged Connolly for the submit again in December however misplaced in a closed-door caucus vote. Now, with the seat quickly to be vacated, she’s making it clear she’s again within the combine.
“It’s something that I’m weighing. The seat is not yet vacated, and I think that’s a bridge we can cross when we get to it,” she instructed reporters Wednesday.
If she jumps in, Ocasio-Cortez would enter as a transparent frontrunner. Based on Axios, different Democrats are watching her subsequent transfer carefully, with some progressive members holding again their very own bids till she decides.
Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia
The Home Oversight Committee isn’t any small gig, contemplating it’s behind Home investigations and the Democratic Occasion’s foremost line of assault towards Trump. With MAGA loyalists operating interference throughout the Home, Democrats will want somebody who’s sharp, seen, and unafraid of a struggle. Ocasio-Cortez checks all of these containers.
She’s already change into probably the most recognizable faces in Congress, particularly after co-leading the “Fighting Oligarchy” tour with Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, packing venues even in blood-red states like Idaho. She’s additionally polling strongly, with one April survey exhibiting her main Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer in a hypothetical 2028 Senate major.
However Ocasio-Cortez is aware of how the sport is performed and the way energy works in Washington, D.C.
“The party has its views known on seniority and its values on seniority, and I respect that,” she mentioned.
That’s a diplomatic manner of claiming that the outdated guard nonetheless isn’t able to go the torch.
Rep. Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts, 70, will function interim rating member and has already introduced that he desires the job completely. However he’s no firebrand. Lynch sparked backlash after he berated a constituent who requested him to “commit to not voting for any Republican legislation.”
“I get to decide that. “I’m elected. You wanna decide that? You need to run for Congress, okay?” he snapped again.
Different younger leaders, together with Reps. Jasmine Crockett of Texas and Maxwell Frost of Florida, are additionally reportedly eyeing the highest Oversight spot, although they’re nonetheless ready to see what Ocasio-Cortez decides first.
“A number of members are exploring a run as they wait to see if AOC wants to do it,” one Home Democrat instructed Axios.
There’s additionally the matter of timing. Since Connolly hasn’t mentioned when he’ll formally exit, Lynch may dangle on for months whereas occasion leaders sidestep an open struggle. However in some unspecified time in the future, Democrats may have to select: Hold defaulting to the outdated playbook, or hand energy to the following technology.
Ocasio-Cortez has made a profession out of difficult the established order. This is likely to be the second her occasion lastly lets her lead.
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