Ocasio-Cortez set to launch bid for top Dem spot on key panel

As Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez prepares to jump into the race to be the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, she’s testing how far her colleagues are willing to go as they shake up their leadership structure.

She told reporters Friday that an announcement was coming “soon” and to keep an eye on her social media.

Her official launch would mean challenging Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va), who has already announced he wants to run as the top Democrat of the committee after Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), who currently occupies the spot, tossed his hat in for House Judiciary ranking member.

“We talked the other day, and [Ocasio-Cortez] indicated she was headed that way,” about running against him, said Connolly. “And I said: ‘Great, we’ll run an honorable race, a civil race and we’ll be friends at the beginning and at the end.’”

The 35-year-old outspoken progressive has long been critical of party leaders and doesn’t always align with the rest of her party. But she’s learned to play the inside track in the Democratic Caucus, working with colleagues and leadership more rather than always using her proverbial megaphone. Raskin named her the vice ranking member of the Oversight Committee earlier this Congress.

Her likely entry into the race is the latest bullet point as Democrats make sweeping changes to the aging leadership of their committees. Rep. Raúl Grijalva of Arizona is stepping aside as the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee, Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York ended his bid to continue leading Judiciary Committee Democrats and endorsed Raskin, and Rep. David Scott of Georgia is facing tough challenges to keep his job as the top Agriculture Committee Democrat.