Kathleen Rice Beats Out AOC For Seat On Important Committee

GARDEN CITY, NY — Long Island's Kathleen Rice beat out freshman Congresswoman and rising media stare Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for a coveted seat on the House's Energy and Commerce Committee, according to reports.

According to Politico, the two New York Congresswomen were in a heated internal race for the seat. But a vote by Democrat House members on Thursday secured the seat for Rice, 46-13.

“It is an honor to be selected by my Democratic colleagues to serve on the Energy and Commerce Committee in the 117th Congress," Rice said in a statement to Patch. "New Yorkers deserve a fighter to lower the cost of prescription drugs, address climate change and improve our drinking water. I look forward to working with my colleagues to help the incoming Biden-Harris Administration combat the COVID-19 pandemic and build back our economy.”

The Energy and Commerce Committee is the longest-standing committee in the House of Representatives. It also has the broadest jurisdiction of any committee, overseeing issues related to healthcare, the environment, energy policy, broadcast communications, cybersecurity and more.

Axios reported that many of the voting Democrats were worried by Ocasio-Cortez's backing of other liberal candidates in primaries against sitting members. Rice also did a better job making inroads with the Steering Committee members who were voting.

The appointment is also a big turnaround for Rice. Two years ago, she was denied a seat on the House Judicial Committee after she did not support Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House.