House Democrats are poised to face a polarizing choice on the other side of the midterm elections: Shove aside one of the most prominent Black progressives in their party in favor of a middle-aged white guy with similar policy views, or potentially hand one of the most powerful chairmanships in Congress back to a nearly 90-year-old as their base clamors for generational change.
It’s poised to be one of the most contentious and high-profile fights for Democrats when they return to Washington, as Rep. Sean Casten of Illinois prepares to try to topple Rep. Maxine Waters of California in a race for the party’s top spot on the House Financial Services Committee. Casten’s likely move against Waters sets up a momentous clash over the coveted spot on the panel, which has wide-ranging jurisdiction over banking, housing, crypto, the Federal Reserve and more.
Casten’s bid starts as a long shot, but Waters is not without vulnerabilities. And her biggest is one she can do little about: her age.
At 88, Waters would be the oldest House Financial Services chair ever if control of the chamber flips. Democrats appear increasingly hungry for generational change in the wake of Joe Biden’s collapsed 2024 re-election campaign, with some in the party calling for an end to the so-called gerontocracy. House Democratic caucus rules impose no term limits on committee leaders, and Waters has led her side of the panel for 14 years, including two terms as chair.
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https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/14/democrats-face-clash-over-maxine-waters-01117667
h/t CFP
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