Rep. Gerry Connolly (D., Va.) defeated Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) in a closed-door caucus vote Tuesday to become the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, Politico reported.
Connolly, 74, who is twice as old as Ocasio-Cortez, 35, and has recently been diagnosed with esophageal cancer, won the seat in a 131-84 vote. He will replace Rep. Jamie Raskin (D., Md.), who is in the running to become the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee.
“Gerry’s a young 74, cancer notwithstanding,” said Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.), a strong Connolly ally.
The powerful Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, which oversees committee assignments, recommended Connolly for the position in a 34-27 vote on Monday. Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) urged her fellow House members to back the Virginia lawmaker over Ocasio-Cortez, Axios reported last week.
The battle between Ocasio-Cortez and Connolly came as multiple septuagenarian committee chairs were pushed out by younger colleagues, Axios reported.
On Monday, Rep. Angie Craig (D., Minn.), 52, defeated 79-year-old Agriculture Committee ranking member David Scott (D., Ga.) and Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.), 72, to lead the Agriculture panel.
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