'No one gives you power – you take it': Democrats seek younger leaders to challenge Trump
House Democrats are considering a shakeup to their leadership that would elevate younger lawmakers to push back against Donald Trump and the incoming Republican majority.
Dozens of Democrats have been privately urging Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) to challenge Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) for the top Democratic spot on the House Judiciary Committee out of concern the New York Democrat might not be up to the task of stopping Trump from abusing his power, reported the New York Times.
"Mr. Nadler, 77, the dean of New York’s congressional delegation, has made it clear he has no plans to step aside," the Times reported. "And while Mr. Raskin, 61, is mulling a challenge, he has not yet decided whether to pursue one, according to colleagues familiar with his thinking who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the matter."
Nadler told colleagues in a letter announcing his intention to seek re-election to the post that he has been standing up to Trump throughout his career, reminding them of his two impeachments, but many colleagues see Raskin, who was the lead impeachment manager in 2021, as more aggressive and articulate in taking on the once and future president.
Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi has been one of the lawmakers encouraging Raskin to challenge Nadler, according to sources familiar with the discussions, but progressive Democrats have been especially critical of Nadler, saying he may be too old to effectively challenge Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) once he assumes leadership of the panel next month.
“Jerry Nadler is a legend in Congress and New York who will inevitably step aside at some point in his political life,” said Adam Green, the co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. “The question is: Will it be more as a Nancy Pelosi or a Dianne Feinstein?”
Democrats are considering shakeups in other House panels to promote more combative and slightly younger lawmakers, including 60-year-old Rep. Jared Huffman's (D-CA) challenge to 76-year-old Natural Resources Committee chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ), while the 79-year-old Agriculture Committee chair David Scott (D-GA) has two challengers, 72-year-old Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA) and 52-year-old Angie Craig (D-MN).
“With the shock wave of Trump’s ‘First 100 Days’ agenda about to slam into our committees, effective committee work led by our ranking members will be critical to limiting the damage from Trump’s Project 2025 agenda, advancing our affirmative agenda, bolstering members in tough districts and drawing contrasts that enable Democrats to reclaim the House majority in 2026 or sooner and make Hakeem Jeffries speaker of the House,” Huffman wrote in a letter announcing his run.
Raskin has been waffling over challenging his friend for the judiciary post, which has privately angered Nadler, but those who want him to seek the ranking Democratic position have invoked a line Pelosi frequently cites.
“No one gives you power," the saying goes. "You have to take it from them.”