Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) will not serve as the most powerful Democrat on the influential House Oversight Committee after she lost two key votes this week to Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA).
Tuesday’s full caucus vote loss is a blow to progressives and other Democrats who supported the New York “Squad” member as part of a larger generational shake-up after the 2024 election. Many Democrats have expressed a desire to reshape the party after losing key races and seeing a drop in blue-collar support for President-elect Donald Trump.
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Ocasio-Cortez’s defeat started Monday night when the Democrats’ steering committee selected Connolly, 74, who had the backing of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), during its meeting.
While the full conference traditionally votes in lockstep with the steering committee, Ocasio-Cortez, 35, rallied support ahead of Tuesday’s meeting, urging her colleagues to buck the recommendation.
“We are still in this,” she posted on social media, adding, “We do not give up.”
However, her efforts again came up short. The House Democratic conference voted 131-84 to choose Connolly as the newest ranking member of the Oversight Committee, one member confirmed to the Washington Examiner.
When asked about the result of the leadership race, Ocasio-Cortez told the Washington Examiner Tuesday afternoon that “the party made its choice” and that she accepted the outcome of it.
Connolly has served 16 years on the Oversight Committee, but his candidacy faced concerns due to his recent cancer diagnosis.
Speaking to reporters after the election results, Connolly attributed his win to his colleagues “measuring their votes by who’s got experience, who [is] seasoned, who can be trusted, who’s capable, and who’s got a record of productivity.”
“And I think that prevailed,” Connolly said.
Ocasio-Cortez was backed by the Congressional Progressive Caucus and Congressional Hispanic Caucus, while the New Democrat Coalition supported Connolly. Pelosi, who fractured her hip over the weekend, was reportedly whipping votes on behalf of Connolly, which likely led to his success.
The New York congresswoman’s loss is a significant setback for younger members who have been hoping to introduce new blood into the Democratic ranks and have had some success already.
There was an opening for the Oversight Committee position because Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), 62, won the ranking member spot on the House Judiciary Committee in a challenge to longtime leader Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), who is 77 years old.
Additionally, Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN), 52, won the ranking member position on the House Agriculture Committee, challenging Rep. David Scott (D-GA), who is 79 years old. Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) got the steering committee nod to succeed Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), who is 76 years old.
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However, the conference’s selection of Connolly may signify that the Democratic Party is not ready to heed all the wishes of “Sqaud’ members to reshape the caucus.
Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA) told reporters following the leadership elections that the results are a “part of our organizational process electing ranking members.”
“We’re in the Democratic caucus,” Aguilar said. “There are different ideas and viewpoints within the caucus, but we’re moving forward, and this is part of our internal process. We will now populate committees and get ready for the 119th Congress.”
Connolly will serve as the chief foil to Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) in the new Congress.
