Perez: ‘Time will tell’ if Ocasio-Cortez win signals need for new Dem leadership

Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Tom Perez on Wednesday said “time will tell” if Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s (D) primary victory over Rep. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.) signals the party’s base is eager for new leadership.

In an interview with MSNBC’s Hallie Jackson, the DNC chief also declined to call for older Democratic leaders such as Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) to step aside in favor of younger lawmakers.

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“I’m wondering if this victory by Ocasio-Cortez signals to you a frustration with where Democratic leadership is right now, whether this is a sign coming from progressives, coming from some Democrats that Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer need to step aside and let in some new blood?” Jackson asked Perez.

“Time will tell, but I think what we’ve seen in elections across the country are candidates who won by focusing on the issues that were keeping their constituents up at night,” he responded.

Ocasio-Cortez scored an upset victory over Crowley, the no. 4 House Democrat, in Tuesday’s primary, winning 58 percent of the vote to Crowley’s 42 percent.

When asked who he would support to lead Democrats in Congress if Pelosi or Schumer were to step aside, Perez said: “I’ll leave that to other people.”

Pelosi has vowed to run for House speaker again if the Democrats regain control of the chamber.

Perez was also asked if Pelosi is the right person to lead the party going forward.

“That is up for the Democratic leadership to decide,” Perez said. “I have great respect for Nancy Pelosi. She has done great work for the Affordable Care Act, it exists because of Nancy Pelosi.”

Pelosi has faced criticism from some House Democrats who say there’s a lack of a cohesive agenda for the caucus. New York Rep. Brian Higgins (D), a member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, called the top House Democrat “aloof” in a statement explaining his decision to support a change in House leadership.

“She’s listening, but this is my conclusion: She’s aloof, frenetic and misguided,” Higgins said earlier this month.

“I’m giving voice to a frustration that I hear every single day,” he added. “It’s members — I don’t want to call anybody out — but this is the conversation that is taking place.”