House Democrats made a decision on Tuesday to choose 74-year-old Rep. Gerry Connolly from Virginia over Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. The vote, which ended 131-84 in Connolly’s favor, disappointed many progressive members.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was said to have worked behind the scenes to gather support for Connolly, despite him being much older than Ocasio-Cortez and facing health challenges, including esophageal cancer. This move sparked criticism, with some calling it an example of the Democratic Party’s leadership being out of touch.
MSNBC host Joy Reid expressed frustration on social media, accusing the party of clinging to an older leadership and consultant-driven approach, which she believes is harming their most loyal voters. Later on her show, she criticized the Democratic National Committee for being controlled by donors and traditionalists.
After the vote, Connolly defended his win, saying that Democrats valued experience over age. He emphasized that his colleagues prioritized experience, trust, and productivity when casting their votes.
However, many felt the decision reflected a deeper issue within the party. David Sirota, a former senior adviser to Bernie Sanders, argued that the vote showed that real change in the Democratic Party would not come easily—it would require fighting against the establishment, which isn’t willing to give up power willingly.
Dan Pfeiffer, co-host of Pod Save America, pointed out that putting seniority over fresh ideas had already hurt the Democrats, especially in presidential races. And John Stoeher, editor of The Editorial Board, noted that while Connolly might be qualified, his selection represented a resistance to new ideas. He argued that choosing Connolly over Ocasio-Cortez signaled that the Democrats were stuck in the past instead of embracing the future.