Thank you, Next
AOC gets steered away from Oversight position
There’s an old saying by Lyndon B. Johnson about a political career in the House of Representatives, “Too slow. Too slow.” Heck, even the great LBJ biographer, Robert Caro described it, “Ability wouldn’t get you into that select circle. Energy wouldn’t get you into it. Only age would get you into it. There was only one way to become one of the rulers of the House: to wait. And, the harshest fact of all about Congress, even waiting was no guarantee.”1
In recent events, the young 35-year-old photogenic congresswoman from New York City, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) lost her recommendation to become a ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform in the upcoming 119th Congress. She was up against Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) age 74, who had the backing of former House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) age 84, despite health troubles, particularly with cancer. The vote conducted under secret ballot by members of the House Democrats' Steering and Policy Committee had shown that they recommended Connolly, having received 34 votes, with AOC receiving 27 votes.2
As Axios detailed, "It's a huge blow to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's (D-N.Y.) hopes of leading the high-profile panel, though the full Democratic caucus still has to vote to approve steering's pick.” But how much of a blow would this be for AOC’s profile? With a second-term Trump administration to take effect about a month away, AOC would have been a high media profile for sure. But what has not been discussed is what hasn’t been said, especially about those who try to raise their media profile - fundraising.3
Thomas Massie (R-KY) once put it into context that congressional lawmakers have to raise money for their committee seats, “You’re not gonna go back home and have a fundraiser in somebody’s living room. That just doesn't work. The people that fund your purchase of the committee seat are the people who have interest in the work product of that committee, DC lobbyists.” Furthermore, former Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) recalled saying, “But people misunderstand that somehow we’re choosing people [leadership], you know that we think are the best at articulating our positions. That’s not true. It’s who can raise the money, and the special interest groups control the money. So the hierarchy of power in Washington DC is special interest groups, leadership, rank-and-file.”4
In a piece I wrote a year ago, I highlighted former Democratic Rep. Tim Penny from Wisconsin, and journalist Major Garrett for their 1995 C-SPAN Booknootes interview for "Common Cents.” A quote in their interview was, “But then the point is, at what point do you become too reliant on those special interest contributions, and at what point does that complicate or compromise your larger agenda? But I think that's a part of it." I wrote about that matter as it pertains to AOC, “Before a freshman member is sworn in, before they even enter into a new political reality, they've already been compromised because to advance their legislative prospects, committee assignments are a vital part of being in Congress, primarily if one seeks to be close with party leadership. Rep. Ocasio-Cortez is a modern-day case, particularly among Democratic circles, when it comes to lawmakers who've arrived seeking to challenge the status quo. Only to be swept by the first real rung of power lowered upon them, now into her third term.”5
In continuation, “To break this down, AOC is indeed working in a different place, but it's in a different realm of the Democratic party. Being part of the House Oversight Committee could be one thing, but being positioned as a vice-ranking member is a whole other meaning. This has enabled her to be closer to leadership, and as brought up earlier, it's that first real spectacle of power, that prized committee seat. Because if a member does play their cards well with party leadership, they can give you that good committee seat and may just speak kindly in return.”6
It should come as no surprise that AOC is not afraid to take on more established members of her party, especially when it comes to seniority, such as winning her seat against former Rep. Joe Crowly in the Democratic primary in 2018. As California Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) said, “There’s a new generation that feels anxious after the election. At the same time, a great party has to have respect for those with expertise and experience.” Connolly has served on the committee since 2009, a full decade longer than AOC. Despite ongoing cancer treatments, Connolly said that he felt good heading into the ranking member race, “I believe we are going to prevail.” Even mentioning, “No one who sees me in action would doubt that I remain the bulldog that I am.” AOC reflected, “I respect why seniority exists, and I also know that I have had significant experience on this committee.”7
In lieu of political profiles, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) age 61 has moved from Oversight to become the party’s top leader amongst the House Democratic Judiciary Committee, with Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) 74, not seeking the post. Raskin too has been battling a cancer diagnosis, that of lymphoma since 2022, but has been in remission since a year ago. Other committees that have faced similar contentions are the Natural Resources and the Agriculture committees. Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) 76, had missed months of voting due to undergoing cancer treatment for lung cancer. Those who were eager to take the position on NR were Reps. Jared Huffman (D-CA) 60, and Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) 45. As for Agriculture, Rep. David Scott (D-GA) 79, has come under pressure due to his frailty, even to have aides escort him around via wheelchair just to cast votes on the House floor. Eventually, Rep. Annie Craig (D-MN) 52, would win to become Scott’s successor as ranking member for Agriculture Democrats.8
Pelosi isn't serving amongst party leadership anymore, at least on paper, but she continues to show her capability to use the capacity of power without being in power. A true political testament if you will. When it comes to a generalization of the members who make up the Democratic Steering Committee, they are usually party leaders and centrist members who conduct their vote under a secret ballot and make their recommendations to all lawmakers of their party. Not to mention that both Republicans and Democrats have different rules when it comes to committee chairs: Republicans have term limits, while Democrats have none.9
Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY) a rank-and-file lawmaker elected to Congress during the midterm 2022 election was to have said it was an eye-opener to watch how the seniority system carried so much weight. “With great respect for those that have been doing the work, we’ve got to be willing to be creatively disruptive and brutally honest about where things haven’t been working.” AOC is a well-touted congressional fundraiser who is both youthful and energetic despite serving in Congress for less than a decade. Part of being a solid fundraiser is not only to help one’s campaign, it’s money to help other colleagues nationwide too. Given the young lawmaker’s profile to bring transparency to the day-in-the-life persona, it would be beneficial both to her and the public at large if she could talk more openly about how being a ranking member, or even a committee chair, helps build a media profile, and raises campaign contributions.10
Robert A. Caro, “Mr Johnson Goes to Washington,” in The Years of Lyndon Johnson: Path to Power, (New York, Vintage Books, 1982), 539. ; Craig Angioletti, “LBJ's Years in the House of Representatives,” The Legislative Route, September 9, 2022, https://thelegislativeroute.substack.com/p/lbjs-years-in-the-house-of-representatives.
Katy Stech Ferek, "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Fights Elders for Promotion," Wall Street Journal, December 15, 2024, https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-aoc-oversight-committee-9b29fc48.
Andrew Solender, "AOC loses key vote in House Oversight race to Gerry Connolly," Axios, December 16, 2024, https://www.axios.com/2024/12/16/aoc-house-steering-committee-oversight-connolly.
Craig Angioletti, “Mo Brooks, Mo Money, Mo Problems.” The Legislative Route, April 20, 2022, https://thelegislativeroute.substack.com/p/mo-brooks-mo-money-mo-problems?utm_source=publication-search.
Craig Angioletti, “AOC Isn't All She's Turned Out to Be.” The Legislative Route, September 12, 2023, https://thelegislativeroute.substack.com/p/aoc-isnt-all-shes-turned-out-to-be.
Angioletti, “AOC Isn't All She's Turned Out to Be.” The Legislative Route.
Stech Ferek, "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Fights Elders for Promotion," Wall Street Journal, December 15, 2024.
Ibid; Andrew Solender, "Rep. Angie Craig set to oust top Dem on Agriculture panel," Axios, December 16, 2024, https://www.axios.com/2024/12/16/angie-craig-david-scott-steering-agriculture-democrats.
Alexander Sammon, "AOC Should Win This Fight," Slate, December 17, 2024, https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/12/pelosi-aoc-democrats-house-oversight-trump.html. ; Stech Ferek.
Stech Ferek; "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez," Open Secrets, accessed December 17, 2024, https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/summary?cid=N00041162.; Craig Angioletti, “AOC Calls Out the Seniority System,” The Legislative Route, June 20, 2022, https://thelegislativeroute.substack.com/p/aoc-calling-out-the-seniority-system.