Former Top Dem Official Slams Party for Passing Over AOC in Key Congressional Role

Former Biden Press Secretary and current MSNBC host Jen Psaki has criticized Democrats for passing over Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) for the party's top position on the House Oversight Committee, calling it a missed opportunity after the party's bruising losses in the 2024 election.

During her show "Inside with Jen Psaki," she said the decision to choose Rep. Gerry Connolly reflected a failure to embrace younger, media-savvy leadership. Connolly, 74, secured the role with a 131-84 vote earlier this month. He was backed by former Speaker Nancy Pelosi who campaigned on his behalf.

Ocasio-Cortez launched her bid as the party undergoes a wave of "anxiety" following President-elect Donald Trump's clear win in the election, with Republicans also poised to control both chambers of Congress. Had she not been defeated, she would be the youngest lawmaker to hold such a role, offering a platform to shape the party's future and scrutinize Trump's administration.

"Why does that matter?" Psaki asked, as reported by FoxNews. "This is one of the few committees in Congress that actually generates national attention or media coverage. Under Jamie Raskin it became a critical platform for countering Republican misinformation."

The outcome marks a blow to the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, which has often looked to Ocasio-Cortez for high-profile representation. Some Democrats, including outgoing Rep. Dean Phillips, have voiced frustration over what they see as a reluctance to elevate younger talent.

"It is time to elevate the best and brightest," Phillips said. "We have literally kept them from ascending to leadership positions, which means they go elsewhere. And when we lose that kind of talent of ambitious, competent, patriotic young Americans, we're in trouble."

On the Republican side, Oversight Committee Chair James Comer appeared to acknowledge Ocasio-Cortez's potential influence, saying he would have liked to see her in the role as she better represents the Democratic Party's "socialist" ideology.

Criticism of the decision has been echoed by other media voices. MSNBC's Chris Hayes described the move as "genuine madness," pointing out Pelosi's active role in securing votes for Connolly even as she recovers from hip surgery. Fellow MSNBC host Joy Reid lamented the Democratic Party's "gerontocracy."

Connolly dismissed the debate as a "false narrative" perpetuated by the media. However, the divide between older and younger Democrats continues to stir concerns about the party's ability to adapt to shifting generational dynamics as it seeks to rebuild after a challenging election cycle.