An under-the-radar decision to add Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and about half a dozen other members to the House Energy and Commerce is causing some angst among House Democrats, according to three people familiar with the matter who were granted anonymity to detail private discussions.
In an unusual move, the Steering and Policy panel filled six out of the seven open slots on the Energy and Commerce Committee Tuesday morning and left the last position open for a 10-way race. The spots were highly competitive, and some lawmakers are questioning why certain members like Ocasio-Cortez were selected while others were left to compete for the last open spot.
Ocasio-Cortez vied for a position on the panel in 2020, losing out in a lopsided vote to then-Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-N.Y.), who hailed from a more centrist wing of the party. Some Democrats had lobbied against Ocasio-Cortez’s attempts to join the panel four years ago, citing her support for liberal primary challengers to sitting lawmakers.
Since then, Ocasio-Cortez has claimed an inside track in the caucus, paying dues to the caucus’ campaign arm and making up with other lawmakers. She also backed away from support for primary challenges when she mounted an unsuccessful bid to be the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee last month.
The committee has broad jurisdiction over health care, energy, technology and other policy areas that will be in the spotlight in the new Congress, as the GOP takes full control of Washington. The panel chaired by Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) has a long tradition of bipartisanship.
The other Democratic additions to the committee, — which has seen significant turnover this Congress on both sides of the aisle — include Reps. Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.), Troy Carter (D-La.), Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.), Greg Landsman (D-Ohio) and Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.).
