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Democratic Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly announced a bid on Tuesday to replace Maryland Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin as the lead Democrat on the House Oversight Committee in the next Congress.

Connolly is the first person to officially toss his hat in the ring to replace Raskin, after the Maryland Democrat announced he was seeking to replace New York Democrat Jerry Nadler as the party’s top member of the House Judiciary Committee. 

The Virginia lawmaker’s entrance into the race to replace Raskin comes after he reportedly spoke with lawmakers about the position, according to Politico. Connolly previously challenged Raskin for House Oversight in 2022.

“I write to respectfully request your support for my candidacy for Ranking Member on the Committee on Oversight and Accountability in the 119th Congress,” Connolly wrote in a letter to his colleagues. “Oversight Democrats must be an aggressive team focused on defending American democracy from [President-elect Donald Trump] and articulating a Democratic agenda that resonates with our constituents.”

Connolly argued that his 16 years of experience on the Oversight panel makes him particularly equipped for the job.

“We must expose and dismantle bad-faith Republican efforts to promote conspiracy theories, intimidate witnesses, and undermine
democratic processes,” the lawmaker wrote. “I’ve done this effectively in my work on the Committee in opposing the impeachment of President Biden and while serving as an appointee on the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government.”

Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez of New York, who is the vice ranking member of the committee, and Ro Khanna of California are also considered possible challengers for the position.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just the News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.