Rep. Robert Garcia, a Democrat from California, has announced his bid for the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee ranking member, making him the first Democrat to formally enter the race for the position.
Garcia emphasized the importance of defending democratic principles in the face of threats to the rule of law and government integrity during his campaign announcement.
The big picture: The race for the ranking member spot was prompted by the passing of former ranking member Rep. Gerry Connolly from Virginia, who had stepped back from his duties earlier this year due to battling cancer.
- At 47 years old, Garcia is positioned as a younger contender for the position compared to other potential candidates, including Rep. Kweisi Mfume of Maryland, Rep. Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts and Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas.
- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from New York, who previously ran for the position and lost to Connolly, has opted not to enter the race this time around.
What we’re watching: The House Democratic Caucus is scheduled to conduct the election for the ranking member role on June 24, with multiple candidates vying for the position.
