New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez lost a key vote on Monday to become the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, as the party's Steering and Policy Committee formally recommended Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) for the role. Connolly, 74, defeated Ocasio-Cortez, 35, by a vote of 34 to 27, according to lawmakers present at the meeting.
The decision marks a setback for Ocasio-Cortez, who is hoping to be the party's leader on the influential panel. However, it is not a done deal, as the full Democratic caucus must still approve the recommendation, leaving the door open for her to contest the position. "She can win tomorrow," one Ocasio-Cortez ally told Axios.
