On Tuesday, December 17, House Democrats voted to elect 74-year-old Virginia State Representative Gerry Connolly to head the House Oversight Committee. Connolly’s election comes after several senior Democrats lost bids for congressional leadership positions to younger officials. However, Connolly was able to beat New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez by making his case that he had more experience and political ability. He also argued that his leadership helped turn Virginia into a blue state.
When making her case, Ocasio-Cortez argued that her public platform, communication skills, and support for colleagues in recent elections would make her the perfect candidate. Her defeat comes amid a larger reckoning in the democratic party, with key figures debating whether their politics have gotten “too far left” to compete with MAGA Republicans.
Following Trump’s election victory in November, many on the left blamed Harris for appearing “too woke” on the campaign trail – despite the candidate boasting about her gun ownership, suggesting harsh immigration policies, and pushing to promote small business.
On Monday, the House Steering Committee endorsed Connolly for the position—another key factor that swayed many Democrats to vote for him. “It’s been 10 years since we resisted a Steering Committee recommendation,” Representative Don Beyer of Virginia noted.
One reason the Steering Committee turned its back on Ocasio-Cortez was that the young congresswoman had previously supported primary challengers to incumbent House Democrats, coming across as unloyal to her colleagues.
The House Oversight Committee oversees all federal government agencies to ensure efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability. Over the next four years, the committee leader will have the difficult job of reigning in the incoming Trump administration.
Many young democrats in the House expressed disappointment in the results. “I’m disappointed,” Vermont Representative Becca Balint said. “I know Gerry will do a great job. But there’s no substitute for someone in that position with millions of Americans following her.”
Despite losing the House Oversight Committee, Connolly and other Democrats praised Ocasio-Cortez for her ambition and predicted she would soon find a leadership seat.
