Maloney Nominated For House Oversight Chair, Reports Say

NEW YORK, NY — Longtime New York City Congressmember Carolyn Maloney is poised to become the woman to chair the House of Representatives' committee on oversight and government reform, according to reports.

Maloney — who represents New York's 12th Congressional District that spans parts of the east side of Manhattan, the Queens waterfront and parts of north Brooklyn — locked up a nomination from the Democratic Steering Committee on Tuesday and is expected to be confirmed by house Democrats on Wednesday, Politico first reported. Maloney held off Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly for the nomination with a vote of 35 to 17, according to the report.

The New York lawmaker has served as the oversight committee's acting chair since the death of Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings. Maloney was given the acting role because she was second in seniority on the committee.

The 68-year-old Maryland congressman died in Baltimore in October from "complications concerning longstanding health challenges."

Maloney — who was passed over for the oversight chair when Cummings was picked for the role in 2011 — said Cummings was a "courageous leader and trailblazer for our nation, and a true friend and mentor to me."

Maloney has served in Congress since 1993 and has held a spot on the oversight committee for her entire tenure. The influential legislator also serves as the chair of the subcommittee on investor protection and vice chair on the financial services and joint economic committees.

She is currently in the midst of a crowded primary election — just her third contested primary since being elected to Congress in 1993. Challengers include previous opponent and NYU professor Suraj Patel; Erica Vladimer, a former state Senate staffer who spearheaded sexual harassment hearings in Albany; Lauren Ashcraft, a comedian and project manager at JP Morgan; and Peter Harrison, a housing activist.

Read the full Politico article here.