Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez felt it was high time she moved on to bigger things, so she put her hat in the ring to become the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee. On Tuesday, however, the New York Democrat was served a harsh dose of reality as she was defeated for the post by Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA).
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The outcome did not come as a shock, as it had been presaged by events on Monday:
The win was forecast a day earlier, when the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee voted to recommend the seat to Connolly, who has a decade more experience than Ocasio-Cortez on the powerful committee.
The nonbinding Steering vote lent a symbolic boost to Connolly, 74, but his victory was ultimately decided by the full Caucus, which huddled behind closed doors Tuesday morning in the Capitol basement and voted by secret ballot to give him the coveted seat. The tally was 131-84.
AOC just lost her race to become ranking member of the House Oversight Committee.
This could be a problem for @AOC, she doesn’t handle rejection well. pic.twitter.com/PD7Lp0DNls
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) December 17, 2024
As we reported, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, or “Speaker Emerita,” as she likes to call herself, stood in AOC’s way and was actively campaigning against her:
Pelosi has been actively leaning on House members to take her side and vote for the 74-year-old Connolly, who has served in the House since 2009:
What we’re hearing: Pelosi has been approaching colleagues urging them to back Connolly over Ocasio-Cortez, according to two House Democrats with direct knowledge of her outreach.
Connolly, 74, and Ocasio-Cortez, 35, are facing off to replace current Oversight Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.).
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Power trip: Entertainment Tonight: Report Says Pelosi Actively Working Against AOC’s Bid for Powerful House Position
It’s a bitter pill for Ocasio-Cortez, whose star has been shining less brightly as of late:
Connolly’s victory puts a halt, at least temporarily, to the meteoric rise of Ocasio-Cortez, a former bartender who stunned Washington in 2018 by defeating Rep. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.), then the chair of the Democratic Caucus, in a primary upset. In the process, she made history as the youngest woman ever elected to Congress. And she’s since built a national brand as an unapologetic defender of progressive ideals that’s made her a superstar of the left.
BREAKING: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has lost her bid to become the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. pic.twitter.com/Ctc6YRYRaQ
— Jesse Morgan (@Jesse_Morgan_) December 17, 2024
The Squad took a beating in the November elections, and their power is on the wane.
Connolly bested Ocasio-Cortez with 131 to 84 votes in what is seen as a blow for progressives who backed Ocasio-Cortez, a member of the progressive “Squad.”
“I thank my colleagues for their support and the confidence they’ve placed in me to lead House Democrats on the Oversight Committee,” Connolly said in a statement after being elected by the House Democratic Caucus..
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In November, Connolly announced he was battling cancer of the esophagus but was “very confident in a successful outcome.” Although arguably not as divisive as AOC, he is definitely no friend of the GOP:
“This will be trench warfare,” Connolly said. “Now is not the time to be timid. I promise the American people that our Committee Democrats will be a beacon of truth and prepared from day one to counter Republican gaslighting.”
I’m guessing this is not the last we’ll hear from AOC, but the loss is a notable setback for the Democratic Socialist. Even some Democrats have had enough “Squad” antics.
