Washington — Democrats elected Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia to function the highest Democrat on the Home Oversight Committee, rejecting a push by some members to faucet a youthful era of lawmakers to guide the get together on high panels.
Connolly, 74, defeated 35-year-old Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in a 131-84 vote to turn out to be the rating member of the highly effective committee. Connolly, who got here to Congress in 2009, will change Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, who will function the rating Democrat on the Judiciary Committee when the brand new Congress convenes on Jan. 3.
“I believe my colleagues have been measuring their votes by who’s acquired expertise, who’s seasoned, who could be trusted, who’s succesful and who’s acquired a report of productiveness,” Connolly informed reporters after the assembly. “And I believe that prevailed.”
Whereas Democrats will stay within the minority within the new yr, Connolly’s elevation to rating member locations him in line to chair the Oversight Committee if Democrats retake the Home in 2026, midway by way of President-elect Donald Trump’s second time period. The committee led quite a few investigations into the primary Trump administration after Democrats received the Home in 2018.
Requested how he plans to cope with a second Trump time period as the highest Democrat on the committee, Connolly stated that Trump “could really feel extra emboldened, however that will additionally make him extra reckless.”
“There’s a legislation on this land, and we’re going to verify it is enforced,” he added.
The combat over committee management assignments has illustrated the tensions over a possible generational shift throughout the get together. Lengthy-serving high Democrats on the Judiciary, Agriculture and Pure Assets Committees have stepped away from the highest spots heading into the brand new Congress, going through challenges from youthful Democrats. Republicans are slated to carry a trifecta in Washington within the new yr, prompting a push for a youthful crop of Democratic committee leaders to counter Republican efforts.
Democrats noticed a management shakeup on the very high of their ranks in 2022, when Republicans took management of the Home in that yr’s midterm elections. Lengthy-serving leaders Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer and Jim Clyburn stepped down from their posts to make method for youthful members.
