Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said Wednesday she is considering a run for House Democrats’ top position on the Oversight Committee.
“It’s something that I’m weighing, but the seat is not yet vacated, and I think that’s a bridge we can cross when we get to it,” she told reporters.
A star of the Democratic Party’s progressive wing, Ocasio-Cortez has recently co-led a series of national rallies with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) that has stoked speculation about her future as Democrats debate the best way to counter President Donald Trump. It’s unclear how a high-profile House leadership position might figure into her political ambitions.
Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), who beat Ocasio-Cortez in the race for Oversight Committee ranking member last year, announced earlier this week he would step aside from the position amid a battle with cancer. He appointed Rep. Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts, a veteran Democratic lawmaker, to serve as an interim head in his absence. Lynch has indicated he would run to succeed Connolly.
Younger members of the caucus have chafed at the party’s previous deference to seniority in choosing leaders, though Ocasio-Cortez, 35, has recently spoken carefully on the subject.
“The party has its views known on seniority and its values on seniority, and I respect that,” she said Wednesday. “That’s the position of the caucus. So that’s something to be part of a larger conversation.”
If Ocasio-Cortez doesn’t run, a number of young, ambitious members could mount bids including Reps. Jasmine Crockett of Texas, Ro Khanna of California, Maxwell Frost of Florida and Robert Garcia of California.