Connolly Launches Bid to Succeed Raskin as Top Democrat on House Oversight

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The Virginia Democrat, who represents a district with many federal workers, vows to protect their jobs from those aiming to trim government.

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) announced on Dec. 3 that he is running to be the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee.

If elected, he would succeed Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), who is running to be the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee against the incumbent, Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.). The Republicans, as the majority, hold committee chairmanships.

In a letter to colleagues, Connolly said that Democrats on the Oversight Committee “must be an aggressive team focused on defending American democracy from President [Donald] Trump and articulating a Democratic agenda that resonates with our constituents.”

“Our constituents need to know that when it comes to them and their priorities, we are going to fight,” he added.

Connolly represents Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, where many members of the federal workforce reside.

Trump has said he wants to reduce the size of the federal government and “dismantle government bureaucracy.”

This would be partially done through putting federal civil servants under a Schedule F classification that would make it easier to dismiss them. There are strong civil service protections that make it difficult to fire federal employees.

Connolly noted he has introduced legislation to block Schedule F.

“The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is a beat I know well, and right now we need an expert who can parry the worst Republican attacks on our institutions and deliver reform where it is necessary and needed,” he said.

Connolly, who has been in Congress since January 2009, touted his credentials such as his 16 years on the committee. He’s currently the committee’s vice ranking member.

If elected as ranking member, Connolly said he would “elevate the talent and diversity of our caucus.”

Additionally, he said he would be “burrowing into issues, empowering our members to their full potential, and managing the broad range of policies and politics that come before our committee.”

Connolly said he considers himself “a committee workhorse committed to the tough and sometimes obscure work of governing.”

The chairman of the House Oversight Committee is Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), who has been one of the leaders behind exposing the business dealings of President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, alleging the younger Biden benefited from his father’s name.

Hunter Biden received a pardon from his father over the weekend to expunge his convictions stemming from tax and gun-related charges in addition to making him immune from being charged with any crime that may have occurred between Jan. 1, 2014 and Dec. 1, 2024.