Generational Shift Faces Boundaries as Connolly Defeats AOC
Democrats attribute Rep. Gerry Connolly's victory to his solid connections within the caucus.
TroibNews 
Rep. Gerry Connolly’s victory over Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for the lead Democratic position on the Oversight Committee highlights the constraints faced by the party in pursuing generational change, as a seasoned centrist outperformed a progressive representative.
This outcome transcended mere ideological differences, with many centrists harboring concerns about the implications of promoting Ocasio-Cortez, an outspoken liberal known for her viral moments on the panel. There was also a prevailing sentiment among lawmakers that it was Connolly’s turn to lead, particularly since he had previously pursued the Oversight position twice and had dedicated 15 years to serving on the committee, based on insights from eight Democratic lawmakers.
Connolly leveraged his solid connections within the New Democrat Coalition, acknowledged as the largest ideological faction in the caucus, to garner significant backing after Ocasio-Cortez initially gained momentum. Incoming New Democrat Coalition Chair Brad Schneider reportedly made calls endorsing Connolly following the group's endorsement, according to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity about the private discussions.
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi also reached out to other lawmakers to support Connolly, which some members regarded as significant, though others noted that Connolly’s network within the caucus played a more critical role.
“The membership comes together and makes these decisions. Members make individual decisions,” explained Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz. “I’ve seen leadership weigh in on races in the caucus and win some and lose some.”
Connolly's internal whip count of approximately 130 lawmakers closely matched the final tally of 131 votes in his favor on Tuesday morning.
Ocasio-Cortez’s supporters had initially expressed confidence in her candidacy and sought to leverage a post-election desire for change within the caucus. Yet, while other senior members either stepped back or lost to younger contenders, many lawmakers believed it wouldn’t be appropriate to bypass the 74-year-old Connolly for 35-year-old Ocasio-Cortez. Even with calls for a shift in leadership and some concerns regarding Connolly’s recent cancer diagnosis, House Democrats largely maintained their adherence to seniority.
“I think that there are challenges in totally abandoning the seniority system here, because if seniority is not the rule, money becomes the rule,” remarked Rep. Lloyd Doggett, who had been the first Democrat to urge President Joe Biden to withdraw from his reelection.
As they made Connolly their choice on Tuesday morning, lawmakers also opted to elevate Reps. Jared Huffman and Angie Craig as ranking members, succeeding lawmakers who had faced scrutiny over their health and attendance in Congress.
Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer, a former high-ranking Democratic leader, advocated for respecting seniority during caucus discussions. He indicated he was doing so on Pelosi's behalf, who was not present for Tuesday’s meetings due to recovery from hip replacement surgery resulting from a fall. Along with Connolly, Pelosi had also supported Huffman and Rep. Jim Costa, who failed to secure the ranking position on the Agriculture Committee, as part of the California delegation’s effort to support their members.
“The fact that you're senior does not necessarily mean you have the ability,” Hoyer stated after the elections. “But if you have the ability, then seniority certainly reflects service, experience, knowledge of the committee, and I think that's perhaps what made the difference in the Connolly race.”
In the lead-up to the vote, Ocasio-Cortez attempted to alleviate anxieties among centrists within the party, suggesting to members of the Steering and Policy Committee on Monday, which eventually recommended Connolly, that she could refrain from supporting primary challengers against sitting lawmakers.
“I think a lot of members know Ocasio-Cortez would be best, but I think there’s some heartburn with New Dems and [moderates] she would put them in a tough spot by going hard on cultural issues,” commented a neutral Democratic leadership aide, who requested anonymity to speak freely.
Ocasio-Cortez’s defeat infuriated her supporters, with progressives in Congress pointing to her ability to mobilize millions on social media and her effective communication skills as key assets for a role focused on countering right-wing messaging.
“There is one person in our caucus that has the ear of millions and millions of people with just the touch of her finger, and that is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez,” asserted Rep. Becca Balint.
Furthermore, some members cautioned that Tuesday's elections may not signify the end of intra-generational competition within the party.
“Those of us who have come up more recently within the Congress understand that the American people have had it with seniority issues,” Balint said. “Nobody in our districts cares about relationships in the building.”
Camille Lefevre contributed to this report for TROIB News
This outcome transcended mere ideological differences, with many centrists harboring concerns about the implications of promoting Ocasio-Cortez, an outspoken liberal known for her viral moments on the panel. There was also a prevailing sentiment among lawmakers that it was Connolly’s turn to lead, particularly since he had previously pursued the Oversight position twice and had dedicated 15 years to serving on the committee, based on insights from eight Democratic lawmakers.
Connolly leveraged his solid connections within the New Democrat Coalition, acknowledged as the largest ideological faction in the caucus, to garner significant backing after Ocasio-Cortez initially gained momentum. Incoming New Democrat Coalition Chair Brad Schneider reportedly made calls endorsing Connolly following the group's endorsement, according to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity about the private discussions.
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi also reached out to other lawmakers to support Connolly, which some members regarded as significant, though others noted that Connolly’s network within the caucus played a more critical role.
“The membership comes together and makes these decisions. Members make individual decisions,” explained Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz. “I’ve seen leadership weigh in on races in the caucus and win some and lose some.”
Connolly's internal whip count of approximately 130 lawmakers closely matched the final tally of 131 votes in his favor on Tuesday morning.
Ocasio-Cortez’s supporters had initially expressed confidence in her candidacy and sought to leverage a post-election desire for change within the caucus. Yet, while other senior members either stepped back or lost to younger contenders, many lawmakers believed it wouldn’t be appropriate to bypass the 74-year-old Connolly for 35-year-old Ocasio-Cortez. Even with calls for a shift in leadership and some concerns regarding Connolly’s recent cancer diagnosis, House Democrats largely maintained their adherence to seniority.
“I think that there are challenges in totally abandoning the seniority system here, because if seniority is not the rule, money becomes the rule,” remarked Rep. Lloyd Doggett, who had been the first Democrat to urge President Joe Biden to withdraw from his reelection.
As they made Connolly their choice on Tuesday morning, lawmakers also opted to elevate Reps. Jared Huffman and Angie Craig as ranking members, succeeding lawmakers who had faced scrutiny over their health and attendance in Congress.
Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer, a former high-ranking Democratic leader, advocated for respecting seniority during caucus discussions. He indicated he was doing so on Pelosi's behalf, who was not present for Tuesday’s meetings due to recovery from hip replacement surgery resulting from a fall. Along with Connolly, Pelosi had also supported Huffman and Rep. Jim Costa, who failed to secure the ranking position on the Agriculture Committee, as part of the California delegation’s effort to support their members.
“The fact that you're senior does not necessarily mean you have the ability,” Hoyer stated after the elections. “But if you have the ability, then seniority certainly reflects service, experience, knowledge of the committee, and I think that's perhaps what made the difference in the Connolly race.”
In the lead-up to the vote, Ocasio-Cortez attempted to alleviate anxieties among centrists within the party, suggesting to members of the Steering and Policy Committee on Monday, which eventually recommended Connolly, that she could refrain from supporting primary challengers against sitting lawmakers.
“I think a lot of members know Ocasio-Cortez would be best, but I think there’s some heartburn with New Dems and [moderates] she would put them in a tough spot by going hard on cultural issues,” commented a neutral Democratic leadership aide, who requested anonymity to speak freely.
Ocasio-Cortez’s defeat infuriated her supporters, with progressives in Congress pointing to her ability to mobilize millions on social media and her effective communication skills as key assets for a role focused on countering right-wing messaging.
“There is one person in our caucus that has the ear of millions and millions of people with just the touch of her finger, and that is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez,” asserted Rep. Becca Balint.
Furthermore, some members cautioned that Tuesday's elections may not signify the end of intra-generational competition within the party.
“Those of us who have come up more recently within the Congress understand that the American people have had it with seniority issues,” Balint said. “Nobody in our districts cares about relationships in the building.”
Camille Lefevre contributed to this report for TROIB News
