Scoop: Holmes Norton passes on House Oversight bid
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Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton speaks at a press conference at the U.S. Capitol about the third anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot on Jan. 5, 2024. Photo: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Image
Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) said Wednesday she is ruling out a run to be the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee after briefly entertaining the idea.
Why it matters: The 87-year-old is the second most senior member of the panel, though her age would have undoubtedly been a significant obstacle.
- The current ranking member, 75-year-old Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), said Monday he is stepping aside "soon" amid his battle with cancer.
- The decision has spawned an inter-generational proxy battle among House Democrats over the leadership of the investigative panel.
The latest: Holmes Norton said in a statement to Axios on Wednesday evening, "After consideration and discussion with House leadership, I have decided not to pursue the ranking member position on the House Oversight Committee."
What happened: Holmes Norton had told Axios in a brief interview at the Capitol earlier on Wednesday that she was fine with Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) serving as the "interim" ranking member but wasn't ruling out a run to succeed Connolly.
- "I may," she said when asked if she would throw her hat in the ring when Connolly formally stepped down, though she added that she hadn't "given it much thought."
- Asked in a followup interview to clarify that she was considering running for the role, Holmes Norton confirmed that she was but declined to offer further insight into her thinking.
- The non-voting delegate from Washington, D.C. previously sought to lead Democrats on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in 2022 but withdrew in favor of Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.).
State of play: Lynch, 70, has said he plans to run for ranking member with Connolly's endorsement, arguing that experience should be prized over factors like youth, outside popularity and social media savvy.
- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), 35, is considering another run for the role after losing out to Connolly last November.
- Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), 44, is expected to run. She and Ocasio-Cortez are both progressive stars with large social media platforms.
- Several other younger progressives are also considering runs, including Reps. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), age 46; Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), 48; Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), 47; and Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), 28, as well as Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.), 76.
Between the lines: Some lawmakers chalked Holmes Norton's interest up to a widely shared ambition among Democrats on the panel.
- "So many people on that committee are thinking about seeking that," one House Democrat told Axios. "I've heard it from a lot of people."
Editor's note: This article was updated after Holmes Norton decided not to pursue a ranking member bid.
