Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is reportedly taking a less active role in the Democratic Party's internal races for top posts in the different committees. According to analyses of her colleagues reported by Axios, the approach gives Minority Leader Hakeen Jeffries space to settle into his role.
This means that one of her last actions in the area was helping prevent Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) get the top party post in the House Oversight Committee. AOC ended up losing against Rep. Gerry Connolly on Tuesday, and Pelosi reportedly made several calls and campaigned on his behalf.
The lawmaker had launched her bid as as the party undergoes a wave of "anxiety" and younger members sought to replace veterans in key posts. However, a majority didn't support a generational change in the Oversight Committee, with Pelosi playing a role to that end.
Other supporters of Connolly highlighted his seniority and experience as key factors in his victory. Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.), a Connolly ally, said while seniority did play a role, his communication skills were also a strong asset. "Everyone sort of made the case that they would be the best to help change the message across the country. ... He's a very good communicator," Beyer said.
AOC would have become the youngest Democrat to lead the party in a House committee at 35 years old. She would have also gained a a platform to not only investigate President-elect Donald Trump's administration, but also to help her party forward as they come to terms with electoral defeat.
While the extent of Pelosi's involvement is not clear, a veteran lawmaker told Axios that she "would actively have her hands on these races" and "prevent them from even happening" in some cases. However, many said that the activity was limited this time around and did not constitute a whip operation.
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