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Ocasio-Cortez Suffers Humiliating Loss

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Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) won a significant endorsement on Monday, securing the backing of the House Democrats’ Steering and Policy Committee in the race to lead the House Oversight and Accountability Committee in the next Congress. Connolly, who has served in Congress for 16 years, defeated Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) by a vote of 34-27. The Steering and Policy Committee, led by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), plays a pivotal role in shaping the party’s leadership decisions and is stacked with allies of the party’s top brass.

Though the vote in this influential panel is largely symbolic, it sends a clear signal to the rest of the Democratic caucus about who the leadership favors. Connolly’s victory gives him momentum as the full House Democratic Caucus is set to hold a secret ballot later this week to formally decide who will replace Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) as the ranking member of the Oversight Committee. Raskin stepped down to pursue a position on the House Judiciary Committee, after winning a leadership battle with Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.).

The Oversight Committee, which holds subpoena power and a broad mandate to investigate federal affairs, is one of the most powerful and high-profile panels in the House. With Republicans taking back control of the White House in the next presidential cycle, Democrats see the position as crucial to scrutinizing potential abuses of power, particularly under President Trump’s expected second term.

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Connolly’s extensive experience on the committee, where he has served for his entire congressional career, makes him a strong contender for the role. Despite recently being diagnosed with esophagus cancer, Connolly has remained active in Congress, continuing to participate in votes and meetings.

Ocasio-Cortez, a rising star in the party, has argued that it’s time for younger Democrats to take the reins and infuse the party with new leadership and ideas. Her primary victory in 2018, when she unseated the entrenched Rep. Joe Crowley, made her a national figure and a symbol of a younger, more progressive vision for the future of the Democratic Party.

While the Steering and Policy Committee’s recommendation is usually a good predictor of the final vote, it’s not a guarantee. In 2014, Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) won the committee’s recommendation to lead the Energy and Commerce Committee but lost when the full caucus voted. With the final vote looming, the race for leadership of the Oversight Committee remains in flux, reflecting the broader ideological and generational divides within the Democratic Party.