A Democratic House committee has recommended Virginia Representative Gerry Connolly for the top Democratic position on the House Oversight Committee. The vote, held in private on Monday, was close, with Connolly winning 34-27 over New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
This vote by the Steering and Policy Committee isn’t final but carries a lot of influence. The full Democratic caucus will make the official decision on Tuesday morning.
The race is seen as a chance for younger leadership in the party. If elected, Ocasio-Cortez, 35, would be the youngest Democrat to lead part of a House committee.
Connolly, 74, recently announced that he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and has begun treatment. Despite his diagnosis, he continues to work regularly in Congress. Connolly, who has been in Congress since 2009, has served on the Oversight Committee for years and has support from influential Democrats like Rep. Nancy Pelosi.
Ocasio-Cortez, a well-known progressive, has been the committee’s second-ranking Democrat since January 2023. She first joined the committee after taking office in 2019.
During Monday’s meeting, Ocasio-Cortez was asked about supporting primary challengers against sitting Democrats. While she has mostly avoided doing so in the past, she indicated that she may be open to backing challengers in the future.