Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has confirmed she will not pursue the top Democratic position on the influential House Oversight Committee, putting to rest speculation that she might seek the ranking member role following her loss in December.
Speaking to reporters, Ocasio-Cortez said she would not vie for the post, which will soon be vacant after Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) announced he is stepping down from the leadership position due to the return of his cancer, the Washington Examiner reported.
Last week, Ocasio-Cortez stated there wasn’t a “vacancy to run for,” but later told reporters she was “weighing” a potential bid. However, on Monday, she announced she would not be pursuing the committee’s gavel, citing the caucus’s emphasis on seniority as a key factor in her decision.
“It’s actually clear to me that the underlying dynamics in the caucus have not shifted with respect to seniority as much as I think would be necessary, and so I believe, I’ll be staying put at energy and commerce,” the left-wing Democrat from New York said.
Had Ocasio-Cortez decided to pursue the position, she would have required a waiver to return to the Oversight Committee. She currently serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee, an “exclusive” panel that, under House rules, limits members from holding seats on additional committees without special approval, the Examiner reported.
House Democrats have been grappling with a generational shift following the 2024 election, as a number of younger lawmakers have challenged longtime leaders for ranking member roles. Many within the caucus have argued it’s time to bring new voices into leadership after Republicans’ sweeping electoral victories.