Progressive darling Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 35, failed in her bid to take the helm of the powerful House Oversight Committee, giving way to Rep. Gerry Connolly, 74, portending a political “trench war” against Republicans. Defeated.
Connolly (D-Va.) won the House Democratic Caucus vote on Tuesday, a day after winning support from the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.
“We did our best. We're sorry we couldn't get your voice heard. We live to fight another day,” the Empire State representative wrote on his BlueSky account after losing the vote. Posted.
Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) has been the No. 2 Democrat on the committee for the past two years under Ranking Member Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), but Raskin The congressman is moving to become the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee. committee.
But many establishment Democrats, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), feel that Connolly is a far more experienced investigator to guide the party in the incoming Trump administration. It is reported that.
Connolly, who represents a suburban district in Northern Virginia, has been the Oversight Committee's leading Democrat since joining the House in 2009. Had Ocasio-Cortez won a seat on the oversight committee, she would have been the youngest Democrat to serve in that role.
“We know what the Republican strategy will be. We've seen it before. They have shown a willingness to spread debunked conspiracy theories and enable the worst abuses by the Trump administration. ,” Connolly said after being elected.
“This is going to be trench warfare. Now is not the time to be cowardly. We want to reassure the American people that our Democratic committee will be a beacon of truth and be ready from day one to counter Republican gaslighting.” i promise.”
Connolly also promised the Democratic Party would be “disciplined” and “committed to getting results on table issues.”
By winning this role, Mr. Connolly is paving the way to become one of President-elect Donald Trump's main opponents in Congress.
But Mr. Connolly's ability to become commander-in-chief will be somewhat limited by the razor-thin House Republican majority.
While Ocasio-Cortez enjoyed a good reputation among progressives, Connolly was able to win support from more mainstream and centrist Democrats.
Until a fall in Luxembourg that required a hip replacement, Ms. Pelosi was thought to be pulling the strings behind the scenes to boost Mr. Connolly.
She is widely believed to have a somewhat rocky relationship with Ocasio-Cortez, who famously defeated her ally former Rep. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.) in an upset in the 2018 primary. .
