Jasmine Crockett’s committee play stirs CBC deliberations
With Gerry Connolly planning to retire, Black Caucus members are weighing who should lead Democrats on Oversight—and how the loss of Agriculture leadership is shaping their thinking.
Some members of the Congressional Black Caucus are factoring in the loss of a ranking member position on the House Agriculture Committee as they consider who to support in the race to become the next top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, according to five sources familiar with the discussions.
Allow me to explain: There is currently no vacancy on the panel—Ranking Member Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) is on medical leave while receiving cancer treatment—but he has announced he will not seek reelection, which would create an opening in January 2027.
If the position becomes available sooner, several Democrats are expected to vie for the role.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), the panel’s vice ranking member, has already launched her bid—and CBC members say ensuring representation in committee leadership remains a top priority as the situation unfolds.
Interim Ranking Member Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) has also indicated he plans to seek the top spot once it opens.
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), a fellow second-term Oversight member alongside Crockett, is reportedly viewed as a dark-horse contender. He has not publicly declared his intentions and has focused his comments on Connolly’s health.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who lost to Connolly in January, formally withdrew her name from consideration on Monday evening.
Ocasio-Cortez gave up her Oversight seat to join the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee, where she now champions progressive priorities on public health, energy and environmental policy, and consumer protection.
She would have needed a waiver from Democratic leadership to return to Oversight. Once Upon a Hill is told that it was not guaranteed she would have received one.
None of the CBC members who spoke to OUAH endorsed a candidate. All emphasized that the conversations they’ve been part of—or privy to—reflect early deliberations. They were granted anonymity to discuss internal dynamics candidly.
What they’re saying: Once Upon a Hill is told that many members haven’t given much thought to the Oversight race yet due to the demands of the reconciliation process.
But the CBC is said to be closely attuned to its numbers and influence—and securing a top committee post remains one of the most effective ways to shape policy and power dynamics.
One House Democrat predicted that most lawmakers would take their cues from leadership and current committee members before deciding.
A spokesperson for the CBC did not respond to a request for comment.
In her words: "If Republicans can use Oversight to harass people, then we can use it to do good and shine a light on all the darkness they’re putting out there,” Crockett told Once Upon a Hill. “I’ve done investigations. I’ve gone to trial. I know how to communicate. And frankly, I think I’m probably the most intimidating person to sit as the ranker on Oversight for Donald Trump.”
In the know: The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability is the chamber’s primary investigative body, ensuring transparency and efficiency across the federal government.
It conducts oversight of agencies and programs to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse—and often serves as the first stop for legislative reforms aimed at improving government performance.
The committee was previously chaired by the late Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), a beloved member of the CBC who led the panel from January 2019 until his death that October.
Crockett said the historical weight of the role—and the legacy of Cummings, who recruited Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) to serve on it—are not lost on her or others in the caucus.
“Well, we know that Raskin was picked up by Elijah. I was picked up by Raskin. And frankly, it was the honorable Gerry Connolly who called me and said, ‘I want you to be my ranker,’” Crockett said. “The committee then unanimously voted for me to serve as his vice ranking member, and I think that says a lot.”
Raskin vacated his role as the ranking Oversight member to become the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee.
How we got here: In January, Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.), the first Black lawmaker to chair the House Agriculture Committee, lost his bid to remain the panel’s top Democrat after concerns about his health and ability to manage the role.
House Democrats instead elected Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.), bypassing seniority in favor of elevating a younger member seen as a more active presence on the committee.
Craig has since launched a campaign for the Senate, leaving the Agriculture ranking spot poised to open again.
CBC member Rep. Shontel Brown (D-Ohio), currently the panel’s vice ranking member, is widely viewed as a potential contender to succeed Craig—keeping questions of representation front of mind as another high-profile leadership post comes into play. (Brown also serves on Oversight, FWIW.)
While no other Black member sought the Ag role after Scott, some in the CBC noted the absence of Black leadership on the committee.
That context is now part of the quiet deliberations underway as members consider who should lead Democrats on the Oversight Committee next.
Not so fast: Crockett is only in her second term, and her candidacy raises fresh questions about the role of seniority in committee assignments and leadership elections.
Long-serving members often bring a deep understanding of legislative procedure, policy and negotiation tactics, making them more effective in high-stakes roles.
The seniority system also incentivizes loyalty: Members who stay in office and wait their turn are often rewarded with leadership positions in exchange for supporting the party’s agenda.
But critics argue seniority rewards longevity over merit, entrenches incumbents, and sidelines newer members with fresh ideas or reform-minded agendas.
In recent years, both parties—especially House Republicans, who impose term limits on committee leadership—have moved toward performance-based selections. But seniority remains a powerful force in Democratic circles, particularly in the Senate.
“The times have found us,” one House Democrat told Once Upon a Hill, reflecting newer lawmakers’ growing unwillingness to wait in line. “If I’m ready to lead, then it would be a disservice not to step up and do so from the front.”
Ocasio-Cortez said she opted not to run this time partly because she sees little evidence that the caucus has shifted away from seniority as a dominant factor. For her part, Crockett acknowledged the dynamic and said she understands it will shape how members evaluate her bid.
“I just want the members to take my candidacy for what it is. It wasn’t about an attack on any type of seniority,” she said. “For me, it’s about understanding the moment and really feeling like I’m probably best equipped in this moment to meet this moment.”
But Crockett’s bid also brings political risk.
She represents a safely blue D+25 district and is a lightning rod for the right—a dynamic some Democrats worry could complicate the party’s broader messaging.
Just this past Sunday, President Trump called her a “low IQ person.” Some Democrats question whether her rhetoric, while celebrated on the progressive left, could alienate white working-class voters the party hopes to win back.
That concern intensified after Crockett joined a controversial walkout during President Trump’s joint address to Congress in March—against House Democratic leadership’s wishes.
Later that month, she referred to Texas Governor Greg Abbott as “Governor Hot Wheels” and a “hot ass mess” during remarks at the Human Rights Campaign’s annual dinner.
Crockett said the comments had nothing to do with Abbott’s disability and instead referenced the planes and buses he’s used to transport migrants to Democratic cities.
But Abbott fired back, saying: “It’s another day and another disaster by the Democrats.” Rep. Randy Weber (R-Texas) introduced a resolution to censure her shortly after.
A closer look: Crockett ran for chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee in January but lost to Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.).
She said she learned to build support earlier—something she didn’t do last time because she was co-chairing the Harris-Walz presidential campaign.
“Well, they told me that I started too late last time while I was busy trying to make sure the Black woman won,” Crockett told Once Upon a Hill, referring to former Vice President Kamala Harris. “So they told me I started late, so I’m trying to make sure everybody knows.”
The final word: Four CBC members currently serve as ranking Democrats on House committees:
Financial Services: Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.)
Foreign Affairs: Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.)
Homeland Security: Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.)
Education and the Workforce: Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.)
That number could change soon—with a high-profile vacancy on Oversight and another expected on Agriculture. You can be sure CBC members will be watching both.