House Democrats are teeing up a caucus election on June 24 to fill the party’s top job on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, vacated by the late Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia, according to two people granted anonymity to speak freely.
The contest to serve as the panel’s ranking member — and as a prominent foil to President Donald Trump’s administration — is shaping up to be a competitive four-way race that could test Democrats’ adherence to their seniority system for committee leadership and appetite to elevate younger members.
Reps. Jasmine Crockett of Texas, Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts, Kweisi Mfume of Maryland and Robert Garcia of California are all expected to run for the position.
Lawmakers have until this point generally avoided publicly campaigning for the position out of respect for Connolly, whose funeral was held Tuesday. But quiet maneuvering had already begun.
Crockett, seen as a rising star in the caucus and a talented communicator, had blanketed her colleagues with texts making her case for the job. Mfume, who is more senior on the panel, had also privately messaged his colleagues about the position. And Garcia, a member of House Democratic leadership, has quietly met with his colleagues, too.
Many House Democrats see the race as wide-open after Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York opted to forgo a bid to keep her seat on the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee. She came up short in last year’s contest against Connolly.
Candidates for the job this time around will first go before the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, which will make recommendations to the full caucus. The caucus will then have to vote to ratify the selection.