Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) appears to be at the top of the shortlist for a key spot on the powerful House Oversight Committee.
The leftist firebrand told POLITICO on Friday there have been “conversations” about her being picked as vice ranking member, but she stressed “nothing’s been finalized.”
If she were chosen for the No. 2 position, Ocasio-Cortez would become the lieutenant to ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and play a leading role in setting the course for Democrats to counter GOP plans to investigate various aspects of the Biden administration.
Because Raskin is undergoing cancer treatment, his deputy could take on more responsibility, including sitting in for the ranking member for hearings during any absences. However, a Democratic aide insisted to POLITICO that any member can sit in for the ranking member.
“I have the greatest admiration for her skill, and I’m sure we’re going to be able to deploy her to maximum effect on the committee, along with all these other amazing new members,” Raskin said of Ocasio-Cortez, who is in her third term.
Party aides told the news outlet that Democrats on the panel are expected to meet on Monday to hash out their plan for the next two years. The report said the meeting could be used to finalize leadership positions.
It also noted how Ocasio-Cortez previously served as Raskin’s vice chairwoman on the oversight subcommittee on civil rights issues, which fostered a “close relationship” that “fueled some speculation among some Democrats” about such a dynamic being repeated as Raskin ascended to the top minority party spot on the full committee.
Among the other Democrats picked to be on the House Oversight Committee for this nascent session of Congress are Reps. Ro Khanna (CA), Katie Porter (CA), Cori Bush (MO), and Dan Goldman (NY).
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