U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Takoma Park on Wednesday was ensured of becoming the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee in the next Congress, putting him squarely in the midst of what is expected to be a major battleground between House Democrats and the incoming Trump administration.
U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York, the current ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary panel, announced Wednesday that he was withdrawing from the contest with Raskin for the post after initially indicating he would run.
“As our country faces the return of Donald Trump, and the renewed threats to our democracy and our way of life that he represents, I am very confident that Jamie would ably lead the Judiciary Committee as we confront this growing danger,” Nadler said in a “Dear Colleague” letter to House Democratic Caucus members. “Therefore, I have decided not to run for ranking member of the Judiciary Committee in the 119th Congress.”
Nadler was said to have made the move after it became apparent that Raskin had secured the votes to defeat him in a vote of the Democratic Caucus, according to The New York Times. Raskin, who had at first been reluctant to run to dislodge Nadler, announced his candidacy Monday after two weeks of being urged to do so by many of his Democratic colleagues.
In a social media post, Raskin praised Nadler.
“Jerry Nadler is an extraordinary lawyer, patriot and public servant. His dogged defense of civil rights and civil liberties is a great inspiration to our people. I am honored and humbled to have his support in the battles ahead,” Raskin said.
On Monday, Raskin had noted that “the stakes have gone way up since the election,” adding that “House Democrats must stand in the breach to defend the principles and institutions of constitutional democracy. This is our historic assignment now. We dare not fail.”
Jerry Nadler is an extraordinary lawyer, patriot and public servant. His dogged defense of civil rights and civil liberties is a great inspiration to our people. I am honored and humbled to have his support in the battles ahead. https://t.co/qsdKK172Kc
— Rep. Jamie Raskin (@RepRaskin) December 4, 2024
Both Raskin, 61, and Nadler, 77, have both been sharp critics of Donald Trump – with each serving as a manager in the impeachment trials that the incoming president faced during and immediately after his first term. However, Raskin has been seen by many of his Democratic colleagues as likely to be more aggressive and articulate than Nadler in taking the fight to the new administration.
The Judiciary Committee has authority over executive branch agencies ranging from the Justice Department to the FBI at a time when the Democrats in the narrowly divided House – which the Republican will control by a 220-215 margin next year — hope to take on the president-elect on his vows to utilize the two law enforcement agencies for retribution against his political enemies.
The committee is also likely to be a major forum for attempts by House Democrats to take on what members regard as threats to the rule of law and the possible overreach of presidential powers that they believe will arise during Trump’s second term. In addition, the committee is certain to be in the center of the action in battles over Trump’s vow to deport undocumented immigrants, and if congressional Republicans – who will control the Senate as well — seek to place further restrictions on abortion rights.
The Judiciary slot marks the second time in the past two years that Raskin – a long-time professor of constitutional law at American University and a former Maryland state senator – has leapfrogged more senior legislators to capture a high-profile leadership position.
In late 2022, Raskin successfully ran for the ranking member’s slot on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, beating out U.S. Rep. Gerald Connolly of Virginia. Raskin’s election came at a time when Republicans on that panel were aiming to bring impeachment proceedings against President Joe Biden – a move that the Democrats succeeded in stymying under Raskin’s leadership.
Connolly is now running again for the top Democratic slot on the Oversight panel, which Raskin will have to give up to take the ranking member’s job on the Judiciary Committee. However, Connolly, 74, may face a challenge from the outspokenly progressive U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 35, of New York – in what could mark yet another generational shift in the makeup of the House Democratic leadership.
Nadler has served in Congress since 1992, while Raskin was first elected in 2016 to represent Maryland’s 8th District – which is currently comprised of more than 75% of Montgomery County voters.
