Raskin's Oversight role gives him pause for Senate run

[brooklynite]

Punchbowl

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) says he’s been “bombarded and besieged” with calls from fellow progressives urging him to run for Senate. But as Raskin mulls whether to seek higher office, his position as the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee is giving him pause.

Does Raskin want to forfeit a chance at being an influential House committee chair to become a freshman senator — and in the minority at that?

When we caught up with Raskin Thursday evening, he didn’t sound like a man ready to leave the House behind.

“The truth is I love the work on the Oversight Committee,” Raskin told us. “A bunch of the new members are people who I went to campaign for and then recruited to come on to Oversight. And I’m just thrilled by the work they’re doing.”

[spooky3]

1. Not sure why the article said he'd be in the minority in the Senate.

Are they already taking it as a given that the Dems will lose the Senate? He’s already in the minority in the House (though that can change in 2024, too).

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Preaching democracy to the Senate doesn't sound like a growth career

[Deep State Witch]

3. I Love Jamie

But I think that he is perfect just where he is, in the House. Once Team Blue retakes the House, he will be Chair of the Oversight Committee.

Maryland has a deep Democratic bench. My county executive, Angela Alsobrooks, has thrown her hat in the ring. I'm backing her unless Jamie decides to run. I'm not happy about Trone running. The dude barely won his Western MD seat last time. Running for Senator means that he'll have to give up his seat. That will give Team Red a good opportunity to take it.

My hope on the other side is that Andy Harris will make a run for Senator and have to give up his seat on the Eastern Shore. Heather Mizeur gave him a good run in 2022. If he decides to try for Senator, he will have to give up his House seat, and we could pick it up. Plus, he would have the dubious pleasure of finding out what the rest of Maryland thinks of him.