AOC Loses Bid For Top Committee Seat After Pelosi ‘Actively’ Schemed Against Her

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) lost the bid to be the leading Democrat on the House Oversight Committee on Tuesday, following reports that former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was actively plotting behind the scenes on behalf of her challenger, Rep. Gerry Connolly.

The 74-year-old Virginia Democrat ended up winning by a margin of 131 to 84 in a secret ballot vote taken by the entirety of the Democratic caucus.

In a report published by Punchbowl News last week, the outlet wrote that Pelosi was “actively working to tank” AOC’s bid and was “making calls” on behalf of Connolly.

“Pelosi has made her support for Connolly publicly known,” Punchbowl added. “But her behind-the-scenes maneuvering shows the amount of political capital Pelosi’s willing to put into the contest.”

Speaking to reporters after the vote was taken, Connolly said age wasn’t a factor in the final outcome. He claimed his colleagues were “looking at capability” instead.

“My colleagues were measuring their vote by who has got experience, who is seasoned, who can be trusted, who has a record of productivity,” Connolly, who recently disclosed that he was being treated for esophageal cancer, added. “That prevailed.”

AOC’s loss was mourned by other progressives who largely deemed it a missed opportunity for the party to reinvigorate itself following President-elect Donald Trump’s win.

“This loss isn’t AOC’s,” Faiz Shakir, an adviser to Sen. Bernie Sanders, posted on X Tuesday. “ It’s a loss for House Dems, who could have had a more compelling and interesting and dynamic approach to the next few years.”