Ocasio-Cortez Declines House Oversight Bid Amid 2028 Speculation
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has confirmed she will not pursue the top Democratic position on the House Oversight Committee, ending speculation that she might make a move for the powerful leadership post following her unsuccessful committee leadership bid last December.
According to the Washington Examiner, Ocasio-Cortez told reporters that she would not seek the role being vacated by Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), who is stepping down from the position due to a recurrence of cancer.
Initially, Ocasio-Cortez claimed there was “no vacancy to run for,” but later said she was considering a run. On Monday, however, she announced she would stay on the Energy and Commerce Committee, citing Democratic leadership’s adherence to seniority as a major factor in her choice.
“It’s actually clear to me that the underlying dynamics in the caucus have not shifted with respect to seniority as much as I think would be necessary, and so I believe, I’ll be staying put at energy and commerce,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
Returning to Oversight would have required a special waiver due to her current seat on the Energy and Commerce Committee—a high-profile assignment that, under House rules, limits members from serving on additional panels without leadership approval.
Democratic leadership has been under increasing pressure from younger members following the 2024 election, with calls to diversify party leadership. Many within the caucus have urged a generational shift after Republicans gained significant ground.
So far, Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) has been the only younger Democrat to successfully unseat an established figure for a committee leadership role. She won the ranking member position on the House Agriculture Committee last December. Though she is currently campaigning for a Senate seat in Minnesota, her office confirmed to the Examiner that she plans to continue in her committee leadership role for now.
Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) became ranking member of the Natural Resources Committee after his opponent, Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), withdrew from consideration due to health concerns before his passing.
Ocasio-Cortez’s decision to hold off on seeking a new committee leadership role aligns with growing rumors about her future ambitions. Her campaign fundraising—reportedly nearing $10 million—has far outpaced typical totals for a House member in a safely Democratic district. The numbers have led to speculation about a potential presidential campaign or even a primary challenge to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in 2028.
Ocasio-Cortez has also increased her national visibility in recent months, joining Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) on the “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, drawing large crowds across both red and blue states.
In the meantime, Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MD) will serve as acting ranking member following Connolly’s exit. According to the Examiner, Connolly has voiced his support for Lynch if he decides to pursue the position permanently.
Other names reportedly under consideration for the Oversight post include Reps. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), Maxwell Frost (D-FL), and Ro Khanna (D-CA).
Meanwhile, a recent poll by the Democratic firm Data for Progress added fuel to speculation surrounding Ocasio-Cortez’s political future. The survey found her leading Schumer by 19 points in a hypothetical 2028 Democratic Senate primary.
Conducted between March 26 and 31, the poll asked 767 likely Democratic primary voters in New York who they would support in a Schumer–Ocasio-Cortez matchup. The results showed 55% backing Ocasio-Cortez, with only 36% favoring Schumer.
The same survey also indicated that Schumer had the highest disapproval rating among the Democratic officials tested, while Ocasio-Cortez ranked among the most favorably viewed—behind only Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris, and Elizabeth Warren.