Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is reportedly making a strong effort to block Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) from securing a top position on the House Oversight Committee.
Multiple outlets, including Punchbowl News and Axios, have confirmed that Pelosi is advocating for Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) to take the spot instead of Ocasio-Cortez.
According to Punchbowl, which first broke the story, Pelosi is “actively working to tank” AOC’s chances.
The 84-year-old veteran Democrat has allegedly been making personal phone calls to other lawmakers to gather support for Connolly.
Ocasio-Cortez had hinted earlier this month about her interest in leading Oversight Democrats. She told colleagues she was considering a bid before making it official.
When she formally threw her hat in the ring last week, she wrote, “This is not a position I seek lightly.”
Stressing the importance of this leadership role, she added, “The responsibility of leading Democrats on the House Oversight Committee during Donald Trump’s second term in the White House is a profound and consequential one.”
At just 35 years old, Ocasio-Cortez has only been in Congress since 2019, but she served as vice-ranking member under Jamie Raskin (D-MD) in the most recent Congress.
Connolly, on the other hand, brings considerable experience, having been a member of the Oversight Committee since 2011. At 74, his seniority and long tenure on the committee are seen as key points in his favor.
The race for this position touches on broader tensions within the Democratic Party. A senior House Democrat told Axios that these contests between older incumbents and younger challengers are raising concerns.
“Many members are concerned about [the] precedent these races are setting,” the lawmaker shared.
Meanwhile, Ocasio-Cortez continues to make headlines for her unfiltered commentary. Recently, she sparked a heated discussion after addressing the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Speaking to CBS News, Ocasio-Cortez linked the emotions surrounding the incident to systemic issues in America’s healthcare system.
Without explicitly condoning any violence, she explained why some Americans have such visceral reactions.
She claimed that “people interpret, and feel and experience denied claims as an act of violence against them.”
Highlighting the financial burdens inflicted by healthcare policies, Ocasio-Cortez connected these to broader societal frustration.
She described the privatized healthcare system as “violent” in a “passive way” for millions of Americans who suffer due to denied treatments or surprise medical bills.
She also gave a personal account, revealing she lacked health insurance herself until she was elected to Congress.
While Pelosi appears focused on influencing the Oversight Committee decision, she encountered her own setback recently during a trip abroad.
The California Democrat was part of a bipartisan delegation in Luxembourg for the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge.
During the visit, Pelosi took a nasty tumble on the marble stairs of the Grand Ducal Palace.
The New York Times reported that she sustained a fractured hip in the fall, which was confirmed by a source close to Pelosi.
Her office later released a statement, saying she had “sustained an injury during an official engagement and was admitted to the hospital for evaluation.”
They assured the public she was “currently receiving excellent treatment from doctors and medical professionals.”
Though it’s unclear whether the required surgery will take place in Europe or back in the United States, doctors reportedly remain confident that a standard procedure can repair the damage.
The people who voted to elect and reelect AOC are some of the stupidest in the country. And that’s a high bar to clear.
I agree with you 100%.
She should not be in charge of anything, or be on any committees. Her, her squad cohorts, their actions and rhetoric, are a danger to virtually everybody in the US.