Outspoken liberal congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is no stranger to stepping into the spotlight and portraying herself as a “different” kind of Democrat.
After all, rocking the boat and challenging the establishment is exactly how the progressive lawmaker catapulted herself into office in the first place.
But after a tumultuous election season for progressives, AOC is quietly re-thinking her brand and plotting a series of moves that will require her to bend the knee to her fellow, more seasoned Democrats in 2025.
According to a POLITICO report, Ocasio-Cortez has privately signaled to Democrats that she might no longer back congressional primary challenges to her colleagues.
In other words, AOC is finally ready to stop trying to primary other Democrats for her own, personal gain.
The question had been raised when AOC made her case in a Steering and Policy Committee meeting for why she should be the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee.
The private admission comes after reports from Capitol Hill indicate that ACO lost her bid to fill the ranking position on the House Oversight Committee to centrist Democrat Rep. Gerry Connolly, Va., in a House Democrats’ Steering and Policy Committee vote.
Prior to the vote — on Friday — the New Democrat Coalition, the Democrats’ largest caucus, endorsed Connolly for Oversight ranking member.
“New Dems are proud to endorse our colleague, friend, and fellow New Dem Rep. Gerry Connolly for Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability,” the caucus said in a statement.
“Rep. Connolly is a strong and talented communicator and a dedicated workhorse prepared to expertly lead the committee in defending our Democratic priorities and standing up to the Trump administration’s extremist actions. He is the right choice to advance the interests of our full caucus.”
Prior to the vote, Punchbowl News reported that high ranking Democrats like former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi were reportedly actively trying to stop AOC’s bid.
“Pelosi is making calls on behalf of Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), who is running against AOC to be ranking member of Oversight,” the publication said.
“Pelosi has made her support for Connolly publicly known. But her behind-the-scenes maneuvering shows the amount of political capital Pelosi’s willing to put into the contest, which will be decided next week.”
With AOC no longer in line for the top position, the private re-calibration from her and her team is a shocking twist considering her path to becoming one of the top liberal lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
If you recall, AOC came to Congress by primarying a Democratic leader (Joe Crowley) and has also backed challenges to other sitting lawmakers since taking office.
However, after a landslide victory by President-elect Trump and other Republicans, the sense is that many progressive Democrats understand that Americans are looking for more centrist views, meaning AOC might be pivoting away from her ultra progressive stances for the sake of the Democratic Party.