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In a significant leadership shift, Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., announced Wednesday that he is withdrawing from the race to remain the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, endorsing Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., as his successor.
The decision paves the way for Raskin to assume the ranking member role, crucial for congressional oversight of the FBI and Justice Department during Donald Trump’s incoming administration.
“As our country faces the return of Donald Trump, and the renewed threats to our democracy and way of life, I am confident Jamie would ably lead the Judiciary Committee,” Nadler wrote in a letter to Democratic colleagues. “Therefore, I have decided not to run for Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee in the 119th Congress.”
Nadler, 77, has served as the Judiciary Committee’s top Democrat since 2019 and played a pivotal role during Trump’s impeachments. His health has been a concern in recent years, though he was easily re-elected in November. Despite stepping down from the leadership race, Nadler assured colleagues he would remain an active committee member, focused on protecting “our most vulnerable communities and democratic ideals.”
Raskin, a 61-year-old former constitutional law professor, announced his bid for the position just two days before Nadler’s withdrawal. He has emerged as a rising star in the Democratic Party, serving as the lead prosecutor in Trump’s second impeachment trial and as a member of the House select committee investigating the January 6th Capitol attack.
“In the 119th Congress, the Judiciary Committee will be the headquarters of Congressional opposition to authoritarianism,” Raskin wrote to colleagues. “As someone who has battled cancer and chemotherapy, I can tell you that I will never, never surrender.”
With Raskin’s move to Judiciary, the race to lead the House Oversight Committee is heating up. Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., 74, has formally declared his candidacy, while Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., 35, is considering a bid. “It’s not generational,” Connolly stated. “It’s about experience and record.”
Ocasio-Cortez acknowledged the possibility of a run but emphasized her respect for Connolly. “I love Gerry,” she said, noting she is still gathering input from colleagues before making a decision.
Raskin’s nomination would place him at the center of the Democratic effort to counter Trump’s influence. His personal story of resilience, chronicled in his 2022 book Unthinkable: Trauma, Truth, and the Trials of American Democracy, has only bolstered his credibility.
If confirmed, Raskin’s leadership will position him as a key figure in the battle to uphold the rule of law and constitutional governance during a turbulent political era.
