There Is No Official Race To Replace Connolly on Oversight — But Shadow Campaigns Are Starting

The top Democrat on the committee is still the ranking member, with Rep. Stephen Lynch assuming his responsibilities. But the jockeying has begun on who could take over.

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Bill Clark/AP

After Rep. Gerry Connolly said he would be “stepping back” as the lead Democrat on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform because his cancer returned, Democrats on the committee privately began debating who could replace him.

But House Democratic leadership made clear Tuesday that there is “no vacancy” on Oversight and therefore no race to replace Connolly.

“We are conducting ourselves in a way that he and the committee desire and that is for leadership to step up and help run meetings as well,” Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar said.