WASHINGTON — Democrats have a sudden vacancy in a visible committee role. Rep. Kweisi Mfume is in the race to fill it.
A number of lawmakers are campaigning to become the Democratic leader of the House Oversight Committee. Among them is Mfume, a Baltimore Democrat.
Whoever wins will be the chief Democrat on a committee vital to the party’s messaging while it’s in the minority. It frequently serves as their congressional microphone. Members use hearings to target President Donald Trump and his administration at large. In 2019, the committee played a leading role in the investigation into Trump’s involvement with Ukraine. Recently, they’ve targeted Trump’s plan to receive a passenger jet from Qatar and his cryptocurrency business ventures.
House Democrats have little ability to disrupt legislation being passed by their Republican colleagues. Since their hands are tied on policy, Mfume has advocated for Democrats to publicly resist Trump’s administration, hoping rallies and demonstrations will help the party regain favor with voters.
“We just have to have good ol’ plain resistance by speaking out and making people understand what is going on,” Mfume told The Sun earlier in May.
Mfume previously called for Trump to be arrested, citing an “assault on the Constitution.”
Whoever is elected would replace the recently deceased Rep. Gerry Connolly, a Virginia Democrat. Connolly passed away last week. He died after a recurrence of esophageal cancer. His funeral was on Tuesday.
Four members are seeking the role. Apart from Mfume, Reps. Robert Garcia of California, Jasmine Crockett of Texas, and Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts are involved. Lynch has led the committee in an unofficial capacity since Connolly’s abrupt announcement on April 28 that he would step down.
The lamentable cause of the vacancy has affected the campaign for the position. Some members have been more open about their aspirations. Others, including Mfume, have been quieter about their interest. But all have begun to approach their colleagues with entreaties for support.
Mfume’s office declined to comment on Wednesday.
Mfume has mentioned following in the footsteps of the late Elijah Cummings, a Baltimorean who served as Oversight chair during Trump’s first administration, according to Politico. Cummings helped lead the impeachment inquiry into Trump during his first term. He replaced Mfume after Mfume left to lead the NAACP in 1996. Mfume won the seat after Cummings passed away in 2019. The pair were close friends.
The four candidates for Oversight this year are in a clash between old guard Democrats and a new generation of progressives. Mfume, 76, was first elected to Congress in 1986. He left office in 1996 to lead the NAACP, then returned to Congress in 2020. Lynch, 70, was elected in a special election in 2001.
Garcia, 47, and Crockett, 44, sharply contrast the senior pair in both age and experience. Garcia was elected in 2022. Crockett was elected in 2020.
Oversight holds a unique place among the congressional committees. Most committees deal with important but sleepy issues that sink into the depths of policy. Oversight excels at the opposite.
For some time, the committee has served a multipurpose role for both parties. Officially, it’s the congressional avenue for certain investigations, like the Republican probe into Hunter Biden. Unofficially, it’s a key tool that both parties use to stir up their base voters.
It’s also an ideal spot to stash certain bombastic members — the ones known more for TV hits and high fundraising totals than for crafting serious legislation. It’s become a haven for the socially active in recent years. Members gain fame and infamy alike from viral clips of outbursts, insults and arguments.
With Democrats in the minority, the committee is an ideal place to hone the party’s message ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Mfume was placed on the Oversight Committee after his election in 2020. The Democratic conference will choose the ranking member by secret ballot on June 24.
The race comes as the party continues to face a reckoning over age. Three Democratic House members have died since March: Reps. Sylvester Turner of Texas, Raul Grijalva of Arizona, and Connolly. Each was at least 70 years old. Former President Joe Biden’s cancer diagnosis, along with a book about his time in the White House, has also triggered renewed questions about the party’s aging leaders.
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