Summary
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) lost her bid to lead Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, defeated 131-84 by Rep. Gerry Connolly in a secret caucus vote.
Reports suggest former Speaker Nancy Pelosi actively lobbied against AOC, backing Connolly by making calls and using political capital to sway votes.
Connolly, 74, cited his experience and record as decisive factors in his victory, despite progressive disappointment over AOC’s loss.
Supporters viewed AOC’s bid as a chance to revitalize Democratic strategy, calling the outcome a missed opportunity for the party.
Surely at this point AOC is going to be in the conversation to run for president in four years. She might not be the frontrunner, but she’s a notable Democrat with a great record.
The best thing to do would be to have them on-side, and working towards a common goal. By alienating her, that battle for her to get the nomination is going to just be more painful. Her platform will be more progressive, because she’ll be stuck in her convictions through being isolated by her party. Her attitude to the old guard will be less about protecting them for their service, and more to do with getting dead wood out.
IMO, anyone that values a progressive platform should back AOC for president right now. Set the wheels in motion, push for stuff you’d think you’d never get, like disarming America, huge tax increases on those earning $1m+, and providing free healthcare.
So less than 10% of the senate.