The race to replace Rep. Gerry Connolly as the top Democrat on the Oversight and Reform Committee is fully on.
Hours after Rep. Robert Garcia announced his candidacy for the ranking member spot on Thursday, Rep. Stephen Lynch followed suit.
“I am well-prepared to manage an extremely talented group of Oversight Democrats as we fight like hell against every action taken by the Trump Administration to curtail individual rights, dismantle our democratic institutions and unload the costs of reckless economic plans onto the backs of America’s workers and vulnerable communities,” Lynch wrote in a letter to his colleagues.
He also touted an endorsement from Connolly, who died just over a week ago after a battle with esophageal cancer.
“As we all know, Gerry Connolly was all about the work, and I am honored to have earned his trust and endorsement to continue this important work and lead Oversight Democrats at a moment when our decisions and our actions over the coming months may determine the course of our American experiment,” Lynch wrote.
He joins Garcia, who sent his own letter to his colleagues on Thursday arguing that he’s the best candidate for the job.
“I’m confident in my ability to unite our diverse voices — and with your partnership, I’m ready to lead — with transparency, tenacity, and the inclusive spirit that defines the very best of our Caucus,” Garcia wrote in his letter, which was obtained by NOTUS.
“Oversight is the heart of Congress’ responsibility to the American people — exposing corruption, protecting taxpayer dollars, reforming government, and demanding transparency from those in power,” Garcia wrote. “We must ensure that government works for working families, not only for the wealthy and well-connected.”
The race is already a crowded field. In addition to Lynch and Garcia, Rep. Jasmine Crockett is also rumored to be running. And Rep. Kweisi Mfume is also said to be looking at the job.
Crockett and Mfume did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Within the Democratic Caucus, the race is considered a rehash of a similar contest in December, when Connolly beat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in a competition pitting experience and generational change against each other.
Ultimately, Democrats sided with Connolly’s experience.
Lynch, who is serving as the interim top Democrat on the committee, is seen within the younger and more diverse ranks of the panel as a continuation of that seniority, which has traditionally been the main factor in Democratic committee races.
But Crockett’s presence in the race is, in and of itself, a notable test of the seniority standard. The Congressional Black Caucus, of which Crockett is a member, has been one of the most outspoken advocates of the seniority system. Crockett’s attempt to leapfrog Lynch, who has nearly 24 years in Congress, is a signal that seniority may not be the deciding factor that it once was. (Crockett is in her second term.)
Garcia, who is also in his second term, would also need to overcome the seniority argument. For his part, Garcia is making calls to his colleagues and telling them that he’d be ready for the job on Day 1, a person close to him told NOTUS.
The Oversight Committee has jurisdiction over the accountability of the federal government — making it an important perch for Democrats to publicly fight against the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency. Lawmakers on the committee often go viral as they trade pithy attacks and message about the other side’s corruption.
The full caucus is expected to vote on who will be the top Democrat on the committee in a secret ballot vote on June 24, a person familiar with the planning told NOTUS.
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Daniella Diaz is a reporter at NOTUS.