Rep. Alexandria-Ocasio Cortez is eyeing running for the top Democratic position on the Oversight Committee, she told reporters. If she runs for the job, the New York Democrat would become the highest profile and youngest candidate in a series of contested committee battles across the House Democratic caucus.
"I'm interested," she said in comments confirmed by a spokesperson.
Ocasio-Cortez also told reporters that she has "a lot of outreach from colleagues," and that she'll "be making a decision shortly" on whether to run for the position. Ocasio-Cortez is currently the vice ranking member for the Oversight Committee.
The outspoken progressive could run for the spot if it's vacated by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), who's mounting a challenge against Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) for the top Democratic position on the Judiciary Committee, Politico reports. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), who had run against Raskin for the job last Congress, declared his bid Tuesday. And Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif) could also be in the mix.
Democratic leadership has maintained strict neutrality on committee fights, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) telling reporters that "the challengers speak for themselves."
The fight for committee positions also comes as younger House Democrats break ranks and challenge older colleagues amid anxiety over the incoming Trump administration and an early indication of where the party wants to position itself ahead of the 2026 midterms, according to Axios.
"There is growing anxiousness among younger members to get their chance," one senior House Democrat told Axios.
The incoming trend is clear in the case of Ocasio-Cortez's potential bid. She's not just significantly younger than her other contenders, but she's also frequently challenged the party's status quo. She was often at odds with the previous generation of House leaders and, along with members of the progressive "Squad," has used her microphone to, at times, express skepticism of Democratic leadership, Politico recalls.
Likewise, Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) could become the first Gen-Z congressional leader from either party after he launched a bid announcing his candidacy for co-chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC).
"I've traveled the nation over the past several months, primarily connecting with young and working-class Americans," Frost wrote in a letter launching his candidacy. "I've heard clearly that there is a hunger for leaders who will forcefully stand for an economy and country that directly benefits them and their communities."
House Democrats' steering committee is expected to meet sometime this month to make recommendations for committee leadership, the full House Democratic caucus will then meet to vote on whether to approve those choices. For now, it remains unclear whether Ocasio-Cortez could be swept in with a wave of generational change or could face turbulence getting support from older members of the party.
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