Politico has an interesting new story up about all the maneuvering going on regarding a potential overhaul within House Democratic ranks about who will end up becoming the Democratic leader on various powerful committees, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries seems content to let the process play out:
Jeffries stays out of the way as Dems mutiny against senior panel leaders
House Democrats are poised to unseat several senior committee leaders, and Hakeem Jeffries is letting it happen.
Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona, 76, announced this week that he would step down from the top Democratic spot on the Natural Resources Committee. Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York, 77, dropped his bid to continue leading Democrats on Judiciary in the face of a tough challenge from 61-year-old Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland. And Rep. David Scott of Georgia, 79, is facing multiple challenges for the top Democratic spot on the Agriculture Committee.
It's akin to a mutiny, especially given Democrats’ typical deference to seniority in who leads panels. But party lawmakers are increasingly anxious about the incoming Trump administration and full GOP control of Congress...
At the center of it all is Jeffries, the minority leader, and his leadership team, who also skipped the seniority line in many ways when they rose to the top ranks two years ago. They have publicly stayed out of it, loath to stand in the way of lawmakers who, like them, chafed at the party’s strict adherence to seniority.
...
“I think we, as Democrats, could do a better job with elevating some of our younger members who have great experience. And [you should] not have to be in Congress for 30 years before you can have a meaningful role in leadership and on policy,” said retiring Rep. Ann McLane Kuster (D-N.H.).
In addition to the drama surrounding Judiciary, Natural Resources and Agriculture, there’s also a blooming fight over who will lead Democrats on the Oversight Committee, now that Raskin is set to take the Judiciary spot. Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia has already stepped into the race to replace him, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York has said she’s having conversations with leadership and committee members to possibly launch her own campaign. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois and Ro Khanna of California are also eyeing the perch.
This could get very interesting indeed if AOC actually succeeds in getting a leadership role in Congress!
