House Democrats are in the process of replacing several senior committee leaders, with Hakeem Jeffries not standing in their way. Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona, 76, announced his resignation from the top Democratic position on the Natural Resources Committee. Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York, 77, withdrew his bid to continue leading Democrats on the Judiciary Committee, facing a tough challenge from 61-year-old Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland. Rep. David Scott of Georgia, 79, is also facing competition for the top Democratic spot on the Agriculture Committee.
This shift is seen as a mutiny, as Democrats usually prioritize seniority in leadership roles. However, concerns about the incoming Trump administration and full GOP control of Congress have led many to seek leaders who can effectively oppose Republican priorities. Jeffries and his leadership team have refrained from interfering, as they themselves rose to their positions by bypassing seniority rules.
The caucus is expected to guide discussions on leadership changes, aiming to ensure the right individuals are leading committees. Some believe that the lack of support from leadership for current committee heads signals an endorsement of their removal. Members of Jeffries’ team have held private conversations with lawmakers challenging ranking members, indicating a shift towards a new generation of Democratic leaders.
The race for leadership positions on various committees, including Oversight, reflects a broader desire for change within the party. Younger lawmakers are pushing for more opportunities to rise in leadership roles without having to wait decades. The upcoming leadership changes could test the willingness of Democrats to embrace this shakeup and pave the way for a new generation to take the reins. El Comité de Dirección y Política, un panel interno que adjudica asignaciones de comités, está compuesto en gran parte por miembros elegidos por el liderazgo y elegidos por bloques regionales, dando más influencia a grupos grandes como los legisladores de California.
En una señal reveladora de cómo la marea ha cambiado en contra de algunos de los líderes de comités senior, el Caucus Negro del Congreso, que anteriormente respaldó a Scott como el principal demócrata de Agricultura, aún no ha emitido una declaración de apoyo por él hasta ahora.
Su presidente saliente, el Representante Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), dijo a los reporteros el miércoles que el Caucus Negro había invitado a todos los candidatos del Comité de Agricultura a un foro con el poderoso bloque “para que puedan describir sus metas y objetivos por qué buscan el puesto”.
Scott no estuvo presente en las elecciones de liderazgo del Caucus Negro el miércoles.
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