House Democrats Weigh Seniority and Gender Politics in Replacing Cummings

November 19, 2019by Griffin Connolly
House Democrats Weigh Seniority and Gender Politics in Replacing Cummings

WASHINGTON — House Democrats will confront longtime divisions over gender politics and how much weight to give seniority when they hold a secret vote Wednesday to select a permanent leader for a committee investigating possible ethical violations in President Donald Trump’s administration.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi elevated the most senior member of the Oversight and Reform Committee, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York, to acting chairwoman after Chairman Elijah E. Cummings of Maryland died last month.

Reps. Gerald E. Connolly of Virginia and Stephen F. Lynch of Massachusetts are challenging her, and their supporters are happy to make not-for-attribution comments that question her ability to stand up to the GOP’s most vociferous Trump defenders.

But Democrats say they worry about speaking openly against Maloney because of the optics of choosing a younger white man instead of a woman to succeed an African American, especially after she was already passed over once.

Maloney, a 14-term progressive who has served on the committee since 1993, is considered the front-runner.

In a “Dear Colleague” letter last month, she touted her work helping to remove the citizenship question from the 2020 census, promote the Equal Rights Amendment, and introduce bills to guarantee paid family leave for federal employees.

She also pledged to continue Cummings’ rigorous oversight of Trump and his administration, which predates the impeachment proceedings focused on Ukraine in the Intelligence Committee. Those probes included questioning the Homeland Security Department’s family separation policy, the federal response to hurricanes, and alleged ethical violations by senior Trump officials.

Maloney has largely won backing from the 53-member Congressional Black Caucus, whose older members traditionally vote for the most senior members to lead committees. Cummings was one of the longest-serving members of the CBC before his death.

D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton and Missouri Rep. William Lacy Clay, the second- and third-highest ranking Democrats on the Oversight panel, have been whipping votes for Maloney, who is also the only candidate who is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Her critics say Maloney’s bread-and-butter issues — aid for 9/11 first responders and advocacy for the ERA — are important, but do not align with the committee’s priorities, especially with Trump running roughshod over norms.

Before becoming acting chairwoman, Maloney was not as actively involved in the day-to-day investigative operations that have dominated the committee’s work since Democrats reclaimed the majority in January, multiple Democratic aides familiar with members’ deliberations have said.

And many Democrats, including some who sit on the panel with her, have questioned whether Maloney has the demeanor to counter Republican ranking member Jim Jordan of Ohio. One of Trump’s most aggressive defenders, Jordan was temporarily assigned, for example, to the Intelligence Committee for the public impeachment hearings.

Connolly, who has made numerous appearances on cable networks to criticize Trump, mentioned Jordan twice in a letter pitching his candidacy to colleagues last week.

“My colleagues who have seen me take on Jim Jordan know I will not back down from a fight. I’ve shown I have the skills to communicate our Democratic message while exposing the hollowness and contradictions of the Republican arguments,” he wrote.

Cummings used a similar message, that he was the superior communicator, when he defeated Maloney to become ranking member in 2010 despite the New York Democrat having more seniority.

Republicans had just won a new majority, and incoming GOP Chairman Darrell Issa of California had a well-known reputation for pugnacious partisanship in front of the cameras.

Members have resisted publicly airing concerns over Maloney’s ability to spar with Jordan and other Republicans because it could open them up to accusations of ageism and sexism, aides have said. Maloney is 73, while Connolly is 69 and Lynch is 64.

House Democrats have also pushed for more diversity among committee leaders in their caucus, especially in contrast to the heavily white and male Republican conference.

After teasing a bid for the gavel throughout most of November, Connolly has garnered promises of support from many key members.

Fellow Virginia Rep. Jennifer Wexton introduced him to the Democratic freshman class last week. And Connolly has often acted as a bridge between senior committee members and assertive Democratic newbies such as Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ayanna S. Pressley of Massachusetts.

Nevada Rep. Dina Titus, a member of the Democratic Policy and Steering Committee that will recommend Cummings’ replacement after a meeting on Tuesday at 1 p.m., is in Connolly’s corner. Virginia Rep. Donald S. Beyer Jr. also helped him make a pitch to the Progressive Caucus last week.

Maloney’s office would not respond to her critics. Lynch, who is seen as a long shot in part because of his vote against the 2010 health care law, said in a statement he intends to “continue the good work of our colleague and friend, Elijah Cummings.”

Connolly, in an interview with CQ Roll Call, conceded that Maloney has seniority. But he said he has a deeper knowledge of issues the committee has been investigating, including whether Trump’s real estate business put him in violation of the emoluments clause; lapses in White House security clearance protocols; and payments Trump made ahead of the 2016 election to women who claimed to have slept with him.

“This is not a business-as-usual selection. We are in a crisis with this presidency and the fight between the branches — legislative and executive — and we need to field the best team we can,” Connolly said. “What ought to be dispositive is who is the most capable.”

First elected to the House in 2008, Connolly was Cummings’ vice ranking member in the last Congress and since 2013 has been the top Democrat on the Oversight Subcommittee on Government Operations, the subcommittee with the most sweeping investigative reach.

Pelosi and her leadership team have not picked sides, and the secret ballot members of the caucus will cast means Demcorats will not have to tell colleagues how they vote.

As is often the case in competitive races to lead committees, some members have been linked to multiple candidates.

“The entire NY delegation is backing Maloney,” a spokesman for New York Rep. Jerrold Nadler wrote in a text.

Other Democratic aides, however, said that “The Squad” of four liberal freshman congresswomen, which includes New York’s Ocasio-Cortez, is pitching for Connolly.

The caucus will gather at 3 p.m. on Wednesday to cast votes.

———

©2019 CQ-Roll Call, Inc., All Rights Reserved

Visit CQ Roll Call at www.rollcall.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

A+
a-
  • Carolyn Maloney
  • Democrats
  • Elijah Cummings
  • Nancy Pelosi
  • In The News

    Health

    Voting

    Congress

    March 27, 2024
    by TWN Staff
    Rep. Cleaver New Co-Chair of House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus

    WASHINGTON — Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Mo., is the new Democratic co-chair of the House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency... Read More

    WASHINGTON — Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Mo., is the new Democratic co-chair of the House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus. He was invited to serve as co-chair by Sens. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, the co-chairs of the Senate Renewable Energy and Energy... Read More

    March 27, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    New Dem Chair Kuster Announces Retirement Following 2024 Election

    CONCORD, N.H. — Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H., who, among other things, is the current chair of the New Democrat Coalition... Read More

    CONCORD, N.H. — Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H., who, among other things, is the current chair of the New Democrat Coalition in the House, revealed Wednesday that she will not seek reelection to Congress this year. In a lengthy statement released by her office, Kuster gives no... Read More

    March 25, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    CPAC Releases Ranking of Most Conservative Members of Congress

    WASHINGTON — The Conservative Political Action Conference, also known as CPAC, on Monday released its annual ranking of members of... Read More

    WASHINGTON — The Conservative Political Action Conference, also known as CPAC, on Monday released its annual ranking of members of the House and Senate based on their conservative bona fides or lack thereof. To produce this year’s scorecard, the CPAC foundation’s Center for Legislative Accountability analyzed... Read More

    March 22, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    After a Decade on Capitol Hill, Brad Howard Steps Out on His Own

    WASHINGTON — After a decade on Capitol Hill, most recently as chief of staff for former Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla.,... Read More

    WASHINGTON — After a decade on Capitol Hill, most recently as chief of staff for former Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., and communications director of the Blue Dog Coalition, Brad Howard knew it was time for change. “It was time to move into the private sector,” he... Read More

    March 22, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    Greene Files Motion to Vacate Speaker’s Chair

    WASHINGTON — For the second time in five months, a member of the Republican Conference in the House has filed... Read More

    WASHINGTON — For the second time in five months, a member of the Republican Conference in the House has filed a motion to vacate the chair of the party’s speaker. But this time, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., says the motion is intended merely as a... Read More

    March 22, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    Gallagher to Leave Congress April 19

    WASHINGTON — Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., who already announced he would not seek reelection, surprised many on Capitol Hill on... Read More

    WASHINGTON — Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., who already announced he would not seek reelection, surprised many on Capitol Hill on Friday by announcing he plans to leave April 19, several months before his current term is up. Gallagher’s impending departure will further shrink the razor-thin Republican... Read More

    News From The Well
    scroll top