AOC Says She Won’t Run for Top Democratic Seat on House Oversight Committee

A New York lawmaker said she doesn’t seek leadership roles because of her party’s seniority preferences.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (DN.Y.) said on May 5 that he did not seek a major post on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, citing the party’s preference for more senior panel members.

“It’s actually clear that the underlying dynamics of the Caucus haven’t changed as much as I think I need them on seniority, so I believe I will remain in energy and commerce,” the lawmaker told reporters.

Ocasio-Cortez, commonly known as the AOC, took over as the top democratic spot on the surveillance panel in December, replacing Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and became a ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee.

The New York lawmakers ultimately lost to Rep. Jerry Connolly (D-Va.).

Connolly confirmed last month that he will not be re-electioned in 2026 amid an ongoing battle with esophageal cancer.

The 74-year-old released the news in an April 28 memo to his constituents posted on social media platform X.

“When I announced my diagnosis six months ago, I promised transparency,” he wrote. “After severe treatment, we learned that cancer was first beaten, but now it’s back.”

Democrats vowed to “do everything possible” to complete the remainder of his ninth term, but admitted that the “sun sets” in his career in public service.

Connolly reveals a diagnosis of “surprise”

Connolly initially revealed his cancer diagnosis last November, saying he came as a “surprise” due to the lack of symptoms “except intermittent abdominal pain and pain.”

Lawmakers said they plan to start chemotherapy and immunotherapy soon.

In an April announcement, Connolly did not specify that he plans to formally step down from his role on the famous committee.

Despite the official timeline for his departure not being released, Connolly’s decision has already begun a search for successors, with candidates such as Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), Maxwell Frost (D-FLA.), Locanna (D-Calif) and Stephen Lynch (D-Mass) already lined up according to multiple reports.

Ocasio-Cortez was expected to see Capitol Hill’s minority leader Hakeem Jeffries (DN.Y.) on May 5th to see a “strong number of candidates” play the role, while New York lawmakers were expected to become “a very attractive candidate.”

When she first announced her intention to run for the committee’s top Democrat position in December, lawmakers said it was not the position she had “lightly” sought, but “consequential” after President Donald Trump returned to the White House.

“Now, more than ever, we must focus on the committee’s strong history of taking responsibility for the administration and taking on the economic instability and inequality that challenges the American way of life,” she wrote in a letter to her colleague at the time.

Ocasio-Cortez would have requested a waiver from the Democrats’ Caucus to return to the committee after returning to the committee in December to take a seat on the Energy and Commerce Committee.

When asked about who he could support in the panel’s top democratic spot race on May 5, Ocasio-Cortez said the vacancy had not yet been declared.

“There are no seats available. There are no official races yet, so I won’t comment on that. I would like to respect Connolly, the ranking member,” she said.

The Epoch Times contacted the Ocasio-Cortez office for further comment but did not receive a response per publication time.