Democrats eyeing a return to the House majority are leading the early push to claim open seats on one of Capitol Hill’s most powerful committees.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee, known for its sweeping authority over health care, artificial intelligence, energy, and telecommunications, will have at least eight vacant seats in the next Congress.
Four open slots are expected on each side of the aisle, creating an unusually wide window of opportunity for lawmakers who have long sought a place on the panel.
The vacancies are the result of planned retirements, bids for higher office, and primary election defeats that will reshape the committee’s membership heading into 2027.
On the Democratic side, Reps. Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, Marc Veasey of Texas, Robin Kelly of Illinois, and Diana DeGette of Colorado are among those departing the committee.
Republicans are also set to lose Reps. Buddy Carter of Georgia, Neal Dunn of Florida, Dan Crenshaw of Texas, and John James of Michigan from the panel.
Several of these departing members also chair influential subcommittees, meaning coveted leadership positions within the committee will also be up for grabs in the next Congress.
Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico, a progressive Democrat, is making a particularly aggressive push for one of the open seats and has been candid about her long-standing ambitions.
“Since I first arrived at Congress in 2021, Energy and Commerce has always been my number one committee that I’ve sought to serve on,” Stansbury said in an interview.
The Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, which includes party leadership and regional representatives, will ultimately make selections based on factors such as seniority and geographic balance.
The internal jockeying among Democrats could also set the stage for a broader proxy battle between progressives and moderates within the party.
That ideological tension mirrors the wider intraparty clash already playing out on the campaign trail as Democrats navigate a competitive midterm environment.
With jurisdiction spanning some of the most consequential policy areas in Washington, a seat on Energy and Commerce carries significant legislative and political weight heading into the next term.
