House Democrats on Tuesday delivered a searing blow to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez by denying her bid to be the ranking member on the Oversight Committee, voting in Rep. Gerry Connolly instead.
The Democrats voted 131 to 84 for Mr. Connolly of Virginia, a solid win of nearly 61% of the vote.
A day earlier, the House Democratic Caucus Steering and Policy Committee recommended Mr. Connolly for the post over Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, a New York lawmaker who came to Congress in 2019 with far-left Democrats who became known as the “Squad.”
The steering panel preferred Mr. Connolly, 74, an eight-term congressman, in a 34-27 vote.
The vote helped deliver Mr. Connolly momentum after some believed Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, 35, had an advantage over the veteran lawmaker.
The win by the establishment figure over the leading “Squad” member coincided with Democrats’ rethinking the direction of the party after its losses in November.
It is the first time Mr. Connelly has topped a full committee since he came to Congress in 2008. He was passed over for the leadership post in favor of Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland two years ago.
Mr. Raskin, the former chairman of the Oversight Committee, said Mr. Connolly has “extraordinary experience in battling for the federal workforce and for Public Integrity and he’s going to do a great job.”
He added that Ms. Ocasio-Cortez made a “very strong run based on her incredible work.”
“I think that they’ll be a great team, and it’ll be a terrific new Congress for the Oversight Committee,” Mr. Raskin said.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut congratulated both Mr. Connolly and Ms. Ocasio-Cortez. She noted Mr. Connolly’s long tenure on the committee and his breadth of understanding of the panel
“He’s proven himself on the committee and has been described as a bulldog, I think that’s what his approach has been,” she said.
