The News
Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., has quietly asked Democrats in recent weeks to support him in a potential bid for the top position on the House Financial Services Committee, according to people familiar with the outreach.
If he runs, Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., the top Democrat on the committee since 2013, could see it as an about-face. Casten, 54, privately told Waters, 88, he was not planning on running, Politico reported, after Punchbowl News earlier reported he was interested in the position.
The Congressional Black Caucus has been sensitive to the prospect of challenges to its members, like Waters, who serve as committee leaders. Casten, a former energy entrepreneur, is the vice ranking member of the committee.
He joined Congress after the Democratic wave election in 2018.
Casten’s office declined to comment. Waters’ office did not respond to a request for comment.
Know More
Waters is one of a number of senior members of Congress that fellow Democrats are grumbling about in private for being delinquent on their dues to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Waters paid just 15% of her dues this campaign cycle, or $100,000, according to August figures viewed by Semafor. Casten paid 100% of his dues, or $330,000.
Democrats are also weighing potential rules changes that could lead to committee shakeups. Some of the proposals have involved clarifying what it means to be a member “in good standing,” which could impose conditions to serve on top committees or in leadership like paying dues in full or taking procedural votes with the caucus.
Casten’s likely bid against Waters would mark the latest flashpoint in House Democrats’ generational upheaval. Joe Biden’s decision not to run for re-election prompted a reckoning in the caucus over age and seniority, with younger Democrats challenging more senior committee leaders at the end of the last Congress.
Heading into next year, House Democrats face a number of competitive leadership elections. If they flip the House, they’ll have races for the vice chair position and other downballot caucus positions. And Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-Conn., is challenging Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., for the top Education and Workforce Committee position, with Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., also weighing a bid.
When it comes to Casten, not everyone is thrilled. One former House Democratic staffer dismissed his bid as “deeply unserious.”
“Despite a long list of members with grievances over how Waters runs the committee, none will say his challenge is a good idea,” the person said.
Eleanor Mueller contributed reporting.