House Democrats are hoping to elect former Rep. John Conyers Jr.’s replacement atop the Judiciary Committee before month’s end.
A Democratic aide said the election between Reps. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) and Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) — and perhaps others — is expected the week of Dec. 18. Although the House is currently scheduled to recess for the December holidays on Dec. 14, GOP leaders want to extend the calendar to Dec. 22 to work on budget issues.
Conyers, a 27-term Michigan Democrat, resigned on Tuesday amid a series of allegations that he’d made unwanted sexual advances toward former female staffers — charges he forcefully denied.
The resignation leaves a vacancy for the top Democratic spot on the Judiciary panel, where Conyers has reigned since 1995.
The Judiciary Committee is among the most powerful on Capitol Hill, presiding over such hot-button issues as immigration, gun control reform, law enforcement and impeachment.
Nadler is next in line, but he’s facing a tough challenge from Lofgren, setting the stage for a competitive battle between well-respected party veterans.
The clash is reminiscent of the 2014 run-off between Reps. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) and Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) for ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee. (Pallone, the more senior member of the panel, prevailed).
Nadler said Tuesday that he doesn’t expect any other candidates in the race for ranking member. But Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), the third-ranking Democrat on the panel, hasn’t ruled out a run.
“The dust needs to settle,” she said Tuesday.