It looks like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s rise to Democratic royalty hit a bit of turbulence this week, as her bid to become the top Democrat on the powerful House Oversight Committee was upended by a seasoned veteran. Despite her popularity among the far-left and her “Squad” cheerleaders, Rep.
Gerry Connolly of Virginia managed to outmaneuver her in the Democrats’ Steering and Policy Committee vote, winning 34-27. While AOC isn’t conceding defeat just yet—she’s reportedly pressing ahead for a final vote with the full caucus—this setback serves as a reminder that not everyone in her party is ready to hand the reins to their young socialist firebrand.
AOC has built a brand on Twitter clout, sound bites, and sweeping, wildly left-wing promises. But running an Oversight Committee, especially one tasked with holding the government accountable, isn’t exactly the same as spouting about the Green New Deal in Instagram videos. The Oversight Committee is a serious panel that requires focus, experience, and—dare it be said—leadership that doesn’t devolve into theatrics.
The fact that veteran Democrats like Nancy Pelosi reportedly threw their weight behind Connolly over AOC tells you everything you need to know: even in her own party, the New York Congresswoman’s flair for dramatic ideology doesn’t always translate to trust.
NEWS: Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi is actively working to tank AOC’s bid for the top Dem spot on the House Oversight Comittee, I’m told.
Pelosi has been making calls & campaigning on behalf of Gerry Connolly, who’s running against AOC. More in @PunchbowlNews midday: pic.twitter.com/zYwS628uas
— Melanie Zanona (@MZanona) December 12, 2024
Connolly, at 74, is a classic establishment Democrat—arguably part of the “old guard” that AOC and her allies claim to be replacing. But when it came time to decide who would lead the Democrats’ Oversight efforts, experience won out over AOC’s brand of rabble-rousing. Connolly has a reputation for steady hands and institutional know-how—qualities that tend to matter when you’re navigating serious investigations and battles against the GOP-led committee. Meanwhile, AOC’s track record on the Oversight Committee has leaned more toward headline-grabbing performances than anything resembling concrete achievements.
It’s also worth noting the real dynamic here. AOC represents a wing of the Democratic Party that often alienates moderates and independents. While her focus on pushing “corrosive actions” and “corruption” in Trump’s second term sounds nice to her far-left followers, the broader electorate has seen enough partisan witch hunts disguised as oversight.
The Democrats have already burned through credibility with their previous Trump-era investigations, which often landed somewhere between overreach and outright theater. AOC’s elevation to lead the Oversight Committee would only serve to reinforce the perception that Democrats are less interested in serious governance and more interested in cable news stunts.
BREAKING: The House Democrats’ Steering and Policy Committee has voted 34-27 to select Rep. Gerry Connolly over AOC as the ranking member of the powerful House Oversight Committee. pic.twitter.com/TJ5svoujvL
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) December 16, 2024
There’s also a broader Democratic power struggle at play here. While AOC and the Squad represent the young, woke wing of the party, Pelosi’s support for Connolly shows that the old guard isn’t quite ready to hand over the keys to the far-left fringes. For all her rhetoric about “balancing focus” and “making life easier for the working class,” AOC’s policy proposals—from Medicare for All to massive spending on climate initiatives—have consistently come up short on details and long on costs. Even some Democrats likely worry about the optics of putting her in such a high-profile leadership position.
It will be interesting to see how the full caucus vote shakes out. AOC’s team is insisting she still has a “real shot” to win in the broader vote, where the Squad may try to flex their influence. But make no mistake: if the Democrats opt for Connolly, it will be a clear rebuke of AOC’s brand of politics—loud, divisive, and perpetually stuck in ideological overdrive. For now, the message to AOC seems pretty clear: maybe Twitter followers and viral clips don’t always translate to leadership roles in Congress.
