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Celerity

(49,630 posts)
Mon Apr 28, 2025, 08:49 PM Monday

Lynch will pursue Dems' top House Oversight post, but the big question is whether Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is interested

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/04/28/congress/stephen-lynch-house-oversight-ranking-member-00314482

Rep. Stephen Lynch said he will seek to become the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee after ranking member Gerry Connolly suddenly announced Monday he would step aside. The Massachusetts Democrat said in an interview Connolly promised he would endorse Lynch’s bid for the committee’s leadership position and encouraged him to pursue it. Connolly has asked Lynch to temporarily lead the committee in his place, and the two spoke this morning.

But it’s Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez whom many Democrats are watching. The New York progressive could shake up the field if she chooses to run after losing to Connolly last year in the last race to lead Democrats on the panel. Since losing to Connelly, she’s continued to play the inside game by upping her contributions to the party campaign committee and winning allies inside the Capitol even as she draws large crowds with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) at rallies across the country.

Ocasio-Cortez declined to say in a brief intreview Monday whether she might be interested in the post: “Right now there’s no vacancy, because ranking member Connolly is stepping back. He’s not necessarily stepping down from the committee. So I want to respect that.”

snip

Ocasio-Cortez faces one major obstacle: Caucus rules require committee leaders to be a member of the panel, and Ocasio-Cortez is no longer on Oversight after joining the Energy and Commerce Committee. Rejoining the panel could require a waiver from party leaders and a possible game of musical chairs as members shuffle among committees.

snip



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Lynch_(politician)

On January 3, 2021, the beginning of the 117th Congress, Lynch became the last remaining incumbent House Democrat to have voted against the Affordable Care Act.

In 2025, Lynch was one of 46 House Democrats who joined all Republicans to vote for the Laken Riley Act.
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JI7

(91,823 posts)
1. She should try to make a deal for them to support
Mon Apr 28, 2025, 08:53 PM
Monday

her in the next term when hopefully Democrats can have the majority. And that's when they will have real power over the committees.

Celerity

(49,630 posts)
2. I highly doubt that a big chunk of moderates/centrists/conservadems will ever agree to support her for a major
Mon Apr 28, 2025, 09:05 PM
Monday

House post like Chairperson of the House Oversight Committee, especially if Pelosi decides to say 'NO' in regards to her again.

Many (not all, but a lot) of the huge Dem donors (both individual and corporate) on balance loathe her, and in this post Citizens United world, money talks, loudly.

SSJVegeta

(457 posts)
5. Its getting close to the point where those kinds of democrats have little to no influence
Mon Apr 28, 2025, 09:11 PM
Monday

Just look at the size of the progressive caucus and how much of the Democratic house caucus it now takes up.

Celerity

(49,630 posts)
6. Unfortunately, the (on balance) moderate or centrist New Democrat Coalition has now passed up the Progressive
Mon Apr 28, 2025, 09:28 PM
Monday

Caucus as the single biggest ideological Democratic House caucus, and the difference is even greater when you add in (some New Dems are in the next two groups as well, or at least one of the 2 following groups) the further to the right centrist/conservative Problems Solvers and the conservative Blue Dogs (both of the last two groups are very anti-AOC/anti-progressive, far more than the New Dems are on balance).

SSJVegeta

(457 posts)
7. Thanks for this!!
Mon Apr 28, 2025, 10:12 PM
Monday

So is stephen lynch, like, unaffiliated? Can't find his name on any of the lists.

I imagine the progressive caucus will make a comeback next year if the momentum in their direction keeps up. Lynch seems good. At the very least he isn't full of corporate campaign cash like so many others might be.

Celerity

(49,630 posts)
8. over the decades he has morphed into a moderate centre left Dem, he started out quite conservative, but I find it
Mon Apr 28, 2025, 10:38 PM
Monday

very hard to be enthusiastic about any Dem (unless they are running against any Rethug) who voted for that horrid, racist, due process-busting Laken Riley Act.


https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/202523

All votes

Representative Party State Vote

Bishop Democratic Georgia Yea
Boyle (PA) Democratic Pennsylvania Yea
Budzinski Democratic Illinois Yea
Bynum Democratic Oregon Yea
Costa Democratic California Yea
Courtney Democratic Connecticut Yea
Craig Democratic Minnesota Yea
Cuellar Democratic Texas Yea
Davids (KS) Democratic Kansas Yea
Davis (NC) Democratic North Carolina Yea
Figures Democratic Alabama Yea
Gillen Democratic New York Yea
Golden (ME) Democratic Maine Yea
Gonzalez, V. Democratic Texas Yea
Goodlander Democratic New Hampshire Yea
Gottheimer Democratic New Jersey Yea
Gray Democratic California Yea
Harder (CA) Democratic California Yea
Hayes Democratic Connecticut Yea
Horsford Democratic Nevada Yea
Kaptur Democratic Ohio Yea (surprised and saddened)
Landsman Democratic Ohio Yea
Lee (NV) Democratic Nevada Yea
Levin Democratic California Yea
Lynch Democratic Massachusetts Yea
Mannion Democratic New York Yea
McBath Democratic Georgia Yea
McClain Delaney Democratic Maryland Yea
McDonald Rivet Democratic Michigan Yea
Min Democratic California Yea (surprised and saddened)
Morelle Democratic New York Yea
Moskowitz Democratic Florida Yea
Pappas Democratic New Hampshire Yea
Perez Democratic Washington Yea
Scholten Democratic Michigan Yea
Schrier Democratic Washington Yea
Sewell Democratic Alabama Yea
Sorensen Democratic Illinois Yea
Stanton Democratic Arizona Yea
Subramanyam Democratic Virginia Yea
Suozzi Democratic New York Yea
Sykes Democratic Ohio Yea
Titus Democratic Nevada Yea
Torres (NY) Democratic New York Yea
Tran Democratic California Yea (surprised and saddened)
Vindman Democratic Virginia Yea (surprised and saddened)



https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00007.htm#position

Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Fetterman (D-PA)
Gallego (D-AZ) (surprised and saddened)
Hassan (D-NH)
Kelly (D-AZ)
Ossoff (D-GA) (surprised and saddened)
Peters (D-MI)
Rosen (D-NV)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Slotkin (D-MI)
Warner (D-VA)
Warnock (D-GA) (surprised and saddened)

SSJVegeta

(457 posts)
9. Okay you changed my mind
Mon Apr 28, 2025, 10:41 PM
Monday

I hope AOC runs against him. She might lose, but he can't be given it without at least a fight...

Warnock and Ossoff are definitely huge disappointments for that, but to be fair they represent red states. Lynch is in a very blue district. He has no excuse.

Celerity

(49,630 posts)
10. I don't try to change anyone's mind. I just try to give information to DUers, plus clearly state my own personal stances
Mon Apr 28, 2025, 10:48 PM
Monday

If I do change minds, well all good, I suppose.

One exception to that all is when I see false information (not opinions) posted here. I try to always speak up then, which is quite often a thankless task, lol.

SSJVegeta

(457 posts)
4. She should focus on getting somebody who is not corrupt and honors their commitment to the working class
Mon Apr 28, 2025, 09:09 PM
Monday

Lynch seems to fit that bill. But we will see if she's interested in doing more than get behind him.

SSJVegeta

(457 posts)
3. His opensecrets doesnt look terrible
Mon Apr 28, 2025, 09:07 PM
Monday
https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/stephen-lynch/pacs?cid=N00013855&cycle=2024

Worst he takes from is banks. Very little from defense or foreign PACS. Large amount from unions and professional organizations. He seems like a good one, and I don't see her thinking that challenging him is worth her time. But we will see.
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