The race to replace Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) as the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee is heating up after Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) announced he would seek the position Tuesday.
In a “Dear Colleague” letter obtained by the Washington Examiner, Connolly said the Oversight Committee has been his “top priority” over his 16 years serving on the body. As the vice ranking member, he highlighted that he has passed the most standalone Oversight bills through the committee and House over the past four sessions of Congress.
JAMIE RASKIN LAUNCHES CHALLENGE FOR TOP DEMOCRATIC SPOT ON HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
“Oversight Democrats must be an aggressive team focusing on defending American democracy from President Trump and articulating a Democratic agenda that resonates with our constituents,” Connolly said in the letter. “As a former frontliner who survived my toughest reelection effort by just 981 votes, I know that our work in Congress must be seen as responsive to the kitchen table issues our voters are facing back home.”
Connolly announced his intent to run for ranking member of the powerful committee after Raskin launched a challenge on Monday to replace Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) as the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee.
The Virginia Democrat may not be the only one entering the race. The Washington Examiner confirmed that Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) has been “hearing from colleagues about it, and he’s considering options.”
Other speculated challengers include Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who would likely receive a significant boost from the many progressives who sit on the committee, Stephen Lynch (D-MA), and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL).
Raskin’s challenge to Nadler is one of several intraparty fights occurring across various committees as Democrats look for fresh blood, with a looming GOP trifecta taking over next Congress. Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) announced last week she would run to be the ranking member on the Agriculture Committee, pitting her against incumbent ranking member Rep. David Scott (D-GA).
Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) launched a bid to replace Natural Resources Committee ranking member Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), but Grijalva elected to bow out. Huffman will have a clear path to be the highest Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee unless Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) decides to hop into the race. Stansbury’s office told Politico she was “taking a serious look” at the position.
SENATE DEMOCRATS ELEVATE KLOBUCHAR TO NO. 3 LEADERSHIP SPOT, SUCCEEDING STABENOW
Meanwhile, Senate Democrats elevated Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) to the No. 3 Democratic spot in the Senate in a closed-door meeting at the Capitol on Tuesday. Klobuchar will replace Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) as the chairwoman of the Steering and Policy Committee.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), who also expressed interest in the post, agreed to take the No. 4 position in Senate leadership as the chairman of the Strategic Communications Committee.
