AOC Defeated In Bid For Powerful House Committee Position

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) suffered defeat in her bid to become the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee.

Democrats elected Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) for the role.

The Virginia Democrat defeated AOC 131-84.

According to Axios, AOC also “lost a vote of the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.”

Deets pic.twitter.com/Tb6FuZFnBY

— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) December 17, 2024

Per Axios:

He had the backing of several veteran lawmakers, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

The role came open after current Oversight ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) opted to run for the top Democratic spot on the Judiciary Committee.

ADVERTISEMENT

Connolly hinged his case on experience and his political ability, including arguing that he helped make Virginia a blue state, according to multiple lawmakers who heard his pitch.

“He’s been the ranking member-in-waiting,” is how Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), who supported Connolly, summed up the Virginian’s case.

Ocasio-Cortez emphasized her far-reaching public platform, her ability to communicate and her energetic support for colleagues in recent congressional elections, lawmakers said.

“I think my colleagues were measuring their votes by who’s got experience, who’s seasoned, who can be trusted, who’s capable and who’s got a record of productivity,” Connolly said, according to CBS News.

“And I think that prevailed,” he added.

Dems reject AOC for ranking Oversight Committee spot—opt for elderly, infirm Gerry Connollyhttps://t.co/qz96NJorMQ

— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) December 18, 2024

AOC flops in bid to be top Oversight Dem, as Pelosi-backed victor vows ‘trench warfare’ against Trump https://t.co/zYc39DTQqd pic.twitter.com/BJg9yFKt1A

— New York Post (@nypost) December 17, 2024

CBS News reports:

The fight over committee leadership assignments has illustrated the tensions over a potential generational shift within the party. Long-serving top Democrats on the Judiciary, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committees have stepped away from the top spots heading into the new Congress, facing challenges from younger Democrats. Republicans are slated to hold a trifecta in Washington in the new year, prompting a push for a younger crop of Democratic committee leaders to counter Republican efforts.

Democrats saw a leadership shakeup at the very top of their ranks in 2022, when Republicans took control of the House in that year’s midterm elections. Long-serving leaders Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer and Jim Clyburn stepped down from their posts to make way for younger members.

ADVERTISEMENT

This is a Guest Post from our friends over at 100 Percent Fed Up.

View the original article here.