Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett officially kicked off a bid to become the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, making her the fourth contestant in a crowded race to succeed the late Rep. Gerry Connolly.
“Our country is in an existential crisis driven by an out-of-control Executive with a flagrant disregard for our Constitution, our way of governance, and our very way of life as citizens of a democratic republic,” she said in a letter to Democratic colleagues obtained by POLITICO. “We must pull back the curtain on the unmitigated chaos under Trump 2.0 and translate our findings to the American people in a way they can digest.”
The vacancy opened by Connolly’s death has kicked off a hotly contested race to lead a panel likely to take a bulldog approach to President Donald Trump and his administration if Democrats take the House majority in next year’s midterms. Three other Democrats have declared bids: Reps. Robert Garcia of California, Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts and Kweisi Mfume of Maryland.
The contest has set up a generational clash among Democrats amid a broader reckoning with seniority and age in the caucus. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), opted against a bid, leading many Democrats to see the secret-ballot caucus election scheduled for June 24 as wide open.
Crockett told her Democratic colleagues she saw the committee leadership position as one to respond to Trump and make the case for a Democratic majority.
“From the pulpit of the Oversight Committee, the Ranking Member must lay out our case against Trump 2.0 and his accomplices, the Republicans in the House, and discharge this message across the nation,” she wrote, adding that “our work cannot be solely reactive.”
Crockett, who is 44 and serving her second term, is seen as a rising star among House Democrats. She’s earned plaudits from other Democrats for her tough questioning and viral moments on the committee — and criticism from Republicans for recent verbal missteps. She challenged Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan to lead the caucus’ messaging arm and came up short in a previous leadership bid.
Connolly designated Lynch, 70, to serve as an interim ranking member. Garcia, 47, has been running on his record as mayor of Long Beach, California, and his position in House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ extended circle. And Mfume, 76, has touted his experience leading an Oversight subpanel overseeing government operations.
In her letter to colleagues, Crockett cited her experience as vice ranking member of the committee — a largely ceremonial title — and her background as the child of a federal worker from St. Louis, Missouri. She also praised former President Joe Biden, saying he “saved the world economy,” at a time when the former president and his inner circle have come under fire for failing to disclose concerns around the octogenarian politician’s fitness for office.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this report misspelled Gerry Connolly’s name.
