Congressman Gerry Connolly’s passing on the age of 75 is heartbreaking—and deeply alarming. He’s now the sixth Home Democrat to have died in workplace within the final 12 months and the third Home Democrat to die within the final three months — Sylvester Turner of Texas and Raúl Grijalva of Arizona died inside days of one another in March. Eight Congress members have died since November 2022, and all have been Democrats. Every loss is tragic in its personal proper, however collectively, they sign an issue the Democratic Occasion has lengthy refused to confront: the absence of a deliberate and sustainable management pipeline.
Too usually, we deal with the passing or departure of a member of Congress as the primary cue to consider succession, however management planning shouldn’t start on the finish; it needs to be embedded all through.
This isn’t about ageism. That is about infrastructure. That is about creating circumstances through which management doesn’t hinge on endurance or ready somebody out. Once we act like political legacy is identical as political inevitability, we strip our get together of imaginative and prescient, agility, and relevance. Leaders mustn’t really feel obligated to serve till their final breath, particularly when there are rising stars—already in Congress or able to run—who’re keen and in a position to lead.
Far too usually, the Democratic Occasion features as if new management is a risk to be managed somewhat than a necessity to be nurtured. The message is obvious: except you’ve been in line lengthy sufficient, your concepts, expertise, or urgency don’t matter. That “wait your flip” mentality isn’t simply outdated—it’s actively damaging.
Contemplate the journey of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who unseated Joe Crowley, a ten-term incumbent and as soon as presumed successor to Speaker Pelosi. Crowley hadn’t confronted a major challenger in 14 years and largely coasted by means of his time in workplace till a 28-year-old Bronx organizer knocked on sufficient doorways and spoke to sufficient ignored constituents to alter the sport. However AOC wasn’t simply content material with being a backbencher—she’s additionally tried to steer.
In late 2023, Ocasio-Cortez made a daring bid to turn into the highest Democrat on the highly effective Home Oversight Committee, one of the vital high-profile investigative our bodies in Congress. Regardless of vital public affect and robust assist amongst progressives, she misplaced the interior Democratic caucus vote to Rep. Gerry Connolly—the identical Congressman who has now handed—by a margin of 131 to 84. Connolly, then 74, had the backing of multinational leaders, together with former Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The loss wasn’t nearly seniority; it mirrored the continued institutional resistance to youthful, extra progressive management.
Even after years of legislative expertise, nationwide recognition, and an unmatched skill to mobilize younger voters, AOC was handed over. That call illustrates a deeper drawback: the Democratic Occasion usually treats its rising expertise not as future leaders to be cultivated, however as outsiders to be managed. In doing so, the get together misses essential alternatives to evolve—and to arrange for inevitable transitions.
Now, with Connolly’s passing, the get together faces one other alternative to embrace generational change. Home Democrats are making ready for a caucus election on June 24 to fill the vacant rating member place on the Oversight and Authorities Reform Committee. The race has attracted a various slate of candidates, together with Reps. Jasmine Crockett of Texas, Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts, Kweisi Mfume of Maryland, and Robert Garcia of California.
Crockett, a rising star and the present Vice Rating Member of the committee, has been actively campaigning for the function, reaching out to colleagues to make her case. Mfume, with extra seniority on the panel, has additionally been participating with fellow lawmakers, whereas Garcia, a member of Home Democratic management, has been assembly with colleagues to garner assist. The end result of this election may sign the get together’s willingness—or reluctance—to advertise youthful, progressive voices into management positions.
This upcoming election serves as a essential check for the Democratic Occasion. Will it proceed to uphold a seniority system that always sidelines rising leaders, or will it acknowledge the worth of recent views and the necessity for a sustainable management pipeline? The choice is not going to solely fill a committee place but in addition replicate the get together’s broader dedication to cultivating and empowering the subsequent era of Democratic leaders.
The issue isn’t that the Democratic Occasion lacks younger expertise. It’s that we too usually fail to assist, respect, and elevate that expertise in actual, substantive, transformative methods. We deal with legacy and longevity as extra reputable than vitality and innovation. And in doing so, we danger alienating a era of voters and potential leaders who’re determined for change.
To be truthful, there are unimaginable organizations doing the work to arrange youthful and extra numerous candidates for public workplace. Run for One thing has helped lots of of progressive millennials and Gen Z candidates get their campaigns off the bottom. Emerge America trains Democratic girls to run and win. Greater Heights builds the political energy of Black girls, making certain their management is seen and heard. These teams are essential, however they can’t do it alone. Constructing a strong, sustainable management pipeline can’t be outsourced to nonprofits. It should be a core worth and funding of the Democratic Occasion at each stage.
What we want is intentionality. Meaning mentorship that isn’t performative. It means grooming successors not as threats however as stewards of the motion. It means recognizing that it’s a profound act of management to step apart earlier than it’s too late—to make room for what comes subsequent.
We’d like management constructions that invite new views as a substitute of suppressing them. We’d like committee chairs and caucus leaders who look not solely at who’s been there the longest, however who has the capability to construct bridges, introduce daring coverage, and join with voters the get together claims to care about. Management transitions shouldn’t be pressured by mortality—they need to be guided by technique.
It’s each unfair and unwise to anticipate our most senior members to hold the total weight of our political future. Getting old in workplace needs to be a alternative, not a mandate born of weak infrastructure. And when members select to remain, they need to achieve this with a dedication to mentorship, collaboration, and constructing a bench.
Congressman Connolly was a revered public servant. His legacy, like these earlier than him, ought to immediate greater than mourning. It ought to power an sincere reckoning with how we construct energy—and who we’re making ready to carry it subsequent. If we don’t take that critically, we’ll discover ourselves caught in a cycle of grief and panic, repeatedly.
Being the get together of the individuals means embracing the total timeline of management—previous, current, and rising. “Subsequent” isn’t coming sometime. It’s already right here, displaying up and demanding house.
Preston Mitchum is the founding father of PDM Consulting, primarily based in Washington, DC. His work focuses on racial justice, gender fairness, LGBTQ+ liberation, and the pursuit of insurance policies that transfer past symbolism to create lasting change.
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