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Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Friday announced that she was seeking the top Democratic seat on the coveted House Oversight and Accountability Committee, challenging Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly for the position.

Connolly announced his bid for the seat after Maryland Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin, who currently serves as the committee’s ranking member, entered the race for House Judiciary instead of Oversight.

Ocasio-Cortez made the announcement in a “Dear Colleague” letter sent to the House’s Democratic caucus. 

“I write to you today to seek your support to serve as Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability in the 119th Congress,” she wrote in a letter shared with Just The News. “This is not a position I seek lightly. The responsibility of leading Democrats on the House Oversight Committee during Donald Trump’s second term in the White House is a profound and consequential one.”

“In the 119th Congress, Oversight Committee Democrats will face an important task,” she continued. “We must balance our focus on the incoming president’s corrosive actions and corruption with a tangible fight to make life easier for America’s working class.”

Ocasio-Cortez is currently the vice ranking member of the committee. California Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, who was also considered a potential candidate for the top job, expressed support for the congresswoman in a comment to NBC News on Thursday.

“AOC is very collaborative on the committee and helps lift up all members,” Khanna said. “She has been so passionate about the work of this committee for two years as vice chair, and we need progressives moving into leadership in our Congress and country to enact a working-class agenda. I’m all in for her.”

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