It wasn’t even close….
She lost it to 74 year old guy…..
So much for the Democrats going younger in the House….
House Democrats on Tuesday elected Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) as the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, according to multiple lawmakers familiar with the matter.
Why it matters: Connolly, 74, defeated 35-year-old Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez(D-N.Y.), withstanding a generational revolt that saw several of Democrats’ septuagenarian committee leaders pushed out of their roles.
- Ocasio-Cortez, one of House Democrats’ most high-profile members, also lost a vote of the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee on Monday.
Driving the news: Connolly defeated Ocasio-Cortez 131-84, lawmakers told Axios.
- He had the backing of several veteran lawmakers, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
- The role came open after current Oversight ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) opted to run for the top Democratic spot on the Judiciary Committee.
What we’re hearing: Connolly hinged his case on experience and his political ability, including arguing that he helped make Virginia a blue state, according to multiple lawmakers who heard his pitch.
- “He’s been the ranking member-in-waiting,” is how Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), who supported Connolly, summed up the Virginian’s case.
- Ocasio-Cortez emphasized her far-reaching public platform, her ability to communicate and her energetic support for colleagues in recent congressional elections, lawmakers said.
Between the lines: Lawmakers who supported Connolly acknowledged that his relative seniority over Ocasio-Cortez played a big role — as did his Steering Committee victory the day earlier….
I think she probably would have lost to an opponent of any age. She is probably not well-liked within the caucus and many of course understand that she would be hurtful in the party trying to improve its image.
AOC lost because she’s 35 years old….
I very much doubt that is the reason.
The more likely reasons are
1. She is seen as a showboater
2. She openly calls herself a socialist.
3. Perhaps most importantly, she opposed incumbents in primaries.