Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s bid to become the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee is dividing Democrats.
The centrist New Democrat Coalition and the Progressive Caucus on Friday released dueling endorsements in the race for ranking member on the powerful committee between New York’s Ocasio-Cortez and Representative Gerry Connolly of Virginia.
The race is the among the first tests for progressives in the fight to shape the direction of the party after the 2024 election, which saw Vice President Kamala Harris lose to Donald Trump in the Electoral College and the popular vote. Democrats also lost control of the Senate and failed to flip the House.
Progressives have blamed Harris’ loss on a failure to turn out the base, arguing her strategy of campaigning with Republicans like former Representative Liz Cheney alienated longtime Democratic voters. More moderate Democrats, however, say that Harris was perceived as too liberal by voters and that Democrats should move toward the center to achieve future election victories.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat, speaks in Washington, D.C., on September 18. Ocasio-Cortez’s bid to become the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee has divided Democrats. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat, speaks in Washington, D.C., on September 18. Ocasio-Cortez’s bid to become the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee has divided Democrats. Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
If Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive who famously unseated a powerful House Democrat in a 2018 primary, becomes the panel’s ranking member, it would be a major win for progressives. She would become the most powerful member of the group of the most progressive lawmakers known as the Squad.
The Progressive Caucus backs Ocasio-Cortez’s bid, while the New Democrat Coalition supports Connolly.
Representative Pramila Jayapal, the Washington state Democrat who chairs the Progressive Caucus, and Representative Greg Casar, who will lead the caucus in the next Congress, praised Ocasio-Cortez as a “powerful voice for working people.”
“She has wielded her seat on this committee to hold CEOs, Wall Street, and mega-corporations accountable to the American people,” they wrote. “Her investigations that pressured big Pharma to bring down the price of PrEP and other critical medications are just one example of her influential leadership and commitment to everyday people.”
Meanwhile, Representative Annie Kuster of New Hampshire, the chair of the New Democrat Coalition, and Chair-elect Representative Brad Schneider of Illinois wrote that Connolly should lead the committee. They described him as a “strong and talented communicator and a dedicated workhorse.”
“Throughout his sixteen years on the Committee, Rep. Connolly has been a courageous and formidable force fighting against extremist GOP conspiracy theories and advancing thoughtful, commonsense legislation,” they wrote.
In a statement, Connolly told Newsweek, “I am gratified to have the endorsement of the New Dems, and I look forward to working with all my colleagues.”
Newsweek reached out via email to Ocasio-Cortez’s office for comment.
The Steering and Policy Committee is set to meet Monday to vote on recommendations on committee leadership positions, Politico reported.
In addition to ideology, the race also has generational undertones. Ocasio-Cortez, 35, has positioned herself as the future of the party and a candidate for change, while Connolly, 74, has touted his experience.
Representative James Comer, the Kentucky Republican who chairs the committee, earlier told CNN he would welcome Ocasio-Cortez as the commitee’s top Democrat.
“Obviously, I don’t agree with very much of her policy, but I think she’s a good person, I think she’s very well-spoken. I did not have good relationship with Jaime Raskin, I don’t think that’s any secret,” he said.
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