The decision by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) to forgo a bid for the top Democratic seat on the House Oversight Committee has quickly sparked a series of behind-the-scenes maneuvers to replace Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), the current ranking member, whenever the seat opens up.

The jockeying sets the stage for what could potentially be an animated contest pitting veteran, old guard lawmakers against a younger, newer crop of Democrats who are seeking more influence over the party’s policy and messaging decisions.

Rep. Stephen Lynch (Mass.), a senior member of the panel, was hand-picked to serve as interim ranking member while Connolly is treated for the esophageal cancer that forced him recently to step back from his daily responsibilities. And Lynch has made clear that he wants to fill the seat permanently whenever Conolly, who is not seeking reelection next year, vacates the seat for good.

But a Lynch victory is no slam dunk on a committee stacked with younger members who are eager to advance. Some of those figures were ready to defer to Ocasio-Cortez if she decided to run. But the liberal superstar is no longer on the Oversight Committee, having jumped to the Energy and Commerce panel after an unsuccessful race against Connolly for the top Oversight spot last December. And on Tuesday, she announced that she won’t try again, suggesting the Democrats’ long-held tradition of prioritizing seniority had dimmed her chances of winning. 

Her surprise decision has changed the game, triggering a lively round of private discussions about the future face of Oversight, not only among lawmakers on the panel, but also among members of the broader caucus who will ultimately vote to decide Connolly’s replacement. 

“At this point, I feel like half the committee is wanting to run for the seat,” said Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.), a former Oversight member. 

Among the first names bubbling up is Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), a 47-year-old former Long Beach mayor who was just elected to his second term on Capitol Hill. Garcia said this week that, even after Ocasio-Cortez’s announcement, it’s too early to speculate about the ranking member spot while Connolly still officially holds it.

“Right now we’re all focused on Gerry’s health,” Garcia said. “There’s no election, so I think it’s premature.”

Yet other members of the committee say Garcia has been in talks about a potential run. And some are already pushing for him to jump in. 

“I hear from so many members across the ideological spectrum on the Oversight Committee encouraging Robert Garcia to make a run, because he brings the talents of a newer member and being an amazing communicator, but he’s viewed as a team player,” said one Oversight Democrat, who spoke anonymously to discuss a sensitive topic. 

“His experience as mayor and managing an executive staff in Long Beach, Calif., paired with his ability to communicate to so many different members of the caucus I’m just hearing from all sorts of folks advocating for him.”

Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), in her third term, is another name mentioned in the mix. But like Garcia she told reporters this week that it’s “too early” to discuss transition plans while Connolly remains the ranking member. 

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), 44, another up-and-coming second-term Democrat, has been less bashful about her interest in the Oversight seat a prominent spot for the minority Democrats to hone their attacks on Trump and the more unpopular elements of his policy agenda. Crockett told CNN this week that she’s the perfect fit for the job.

“I don’t know that I’m the future of the Democratic Party, but I do know that, in this moment, we need people that are unafraid and willing to go after this administration for the good of the entirety of the country,” Crockett told the network. “And I think that that is an opportunity that I would have sitting as the ranker on Oversight.”

Lynch, for his part, is touting his long experience on Capitol Hill, where he’s now in his 25th year, while emphasizing that Connolly has vowed to back him publicly when the time comes. Yet Lynch is hardly ignoring the Democrats’ internal debate over generational change, and he’s quick to acknowledge the importance of empowering younger members and tapping the unique skills they bring to the table, not least their proficiencies on social media. 

“I am interested in putting our younger members in a position where they can have an impact,” he said.

The timing of the transition remains very much in flux. Connolly has made clear he wants to keep the seat indefinitely, especially while Trump and Elon Musk continue their efforts to fire federal workers, many of whom Connolly represents in his northern Virginia district. And Lynch said there’s little appetite among Democratic leaders to stage a potentially contentious internal election while Republicans are fighting among themselves over the fate of Trump’s “big beautiful bill.” 

“If there’s a vacancy, the vice chair and I will call an election in accordance with House Democratic Caucus rules,” Rep. Pete Aguilar (Calif.), the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, told reporters Tuesday. “But there’s no vacancy at this point.”

As the debate rages on, at least one rising star in the Democratic Caucus says he won’t seek Connolly’s seat. Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) had initially said he was awaiting Ocasio-Cortez’s decision before deciding if he would launch a bid of his own. But on Tuesday, after she had broadcast her plan to remain on Energy and Commerce, Frost said he’ll also sit this round out. 

“I have a leadership position; I want to focus on that,” Frost said. “I’ve heard there’s a lot of people thinking about it. But I want to see exactly who’s committed to running before I commit” my support.