Stephen Lynch will pursue Democrats' top House Oversight post

Rep. Stephen Lynch said he will seek to become the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee after ranking member Gerry Connolly suddenly announced Monday he would step aside.

The Massachusetts Democrat said in an interview Connolly promised he would endorse Lynch's bid for the committee’s leadership position and encouraged him to pursue it. Connolly has asked Lynch to temporarily lead the committee in his place, and the two spoke this morning.

But it’s Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez whom many Democrats are watching. The New York progressive could shake up the field if she chooses to run after losing to Connolly last year in the last race to lead Democrats on the panel.

Since losing to Connelly, she’s continued to play the inside game by upping her contributions to the party campaign committee and winning allies inside the Capitol even as she draws large crowds with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) at rallies across the country.

Ocasio-Cortez declined to say in a brief intreview Monday whether she might be interested in the post: “Right now there's no vacancy, because ranking member Connolly is stepping back. He's not necessarily stepping down from the committee. So I want to respect that.”

Lynch also made an unsuccessful run for the top Oversight job — in 2022, when he lost to Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.). Both Lynch and Connolly have Boston roots.

Ocasio-Cortez faces one major obstacle: Caucus rules require committee leaders to be a member of the panel, and Ocasio-Cortez is no longer on Oversight after joining the Energy and Commerce Committee. Rejoining the panel could require a waiver from party leaders and a possible game of musical chairs as members shuffle among committees.

Other contenders could include Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas). Neither ruled out running when asked about their interest.