House Democrats are privately disgruntled as key committee leaders for their caucus are planning an exit for various reasons, just months after they were appointed, Axios reported on Friday afternoon.
This comes after a week in which both Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), who has battled cancer, announced he would step down from ranking position on the House Oversight Committee, and Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN), who serves as ranking member on the House Agriculture Committee, is moving to run for Senate.
"Both lawmakers are widely admired by colleagues, but their back-to-back announcements — just months after winning hard-fought leadership races — left some raw emotions, particularly towards Craig," even though she plans to stay on as ranking member until the end of her term. One colleague told Axios, "I get a little p---ed at these people who are running for the Senate who worked hard to become a ranker and now are about to leave," while another said, "I think it's irresponsible for someone to run for leadership and then decide three months later they're going to go do something else."
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The Oversight Committee, in particular, is a high-profile role that will wield significant power should Democrats recapture the House majority next year, and there are already names floated for Connolly's successor.
"Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), the 70-year-old senior member serving as 'interim' ranking member until Connolly steps down, has said he is running," said the report. At the same time, "Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), 44, is expected to mount a bid, with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), 35, considering one as well. Unlike the low-profile, moderate Lynch, both are considered progressive icons."
Ocasio-Cortez launched a bid for Oversight chair previously, but her bid fizzled out, with some observers suggesting that former House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who still commands widespread respect in the caucus, personally intervened to shut down support for the candidacy.
