Chris Hayes: 'Genuine madness' for Democrats not to take 'age issue seriously'

MSNBC’s Chris Hayes said Tuesday that it's “genuine madness” for Democrats to not “take the age issue seriously," after Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) lost to Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) in the bid to be the ranking member on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee next Congress.

On his show, “All In,” Hayes noted multiple instances of older Democrats or left-leaning figures holding on to and acquiring powerful positions instead of letting younger figures take those positions.

Hayes referenced President Biden’s bid for a second term, former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg staying on the court until she died, and the 74-year-old Connolly defeating the 35-year-old Ocasio-Cortez on Tuesday to be the ranking member on the Oversight panel next Congress.

Referring to Biden's reelection campaign and eventual exit from the race, Hayes said, "You would think that would have been enough for Democrats to start taking the age issue seriously, but it was not," in a clip highlighted by Mediaite.

“Gerry Connolly won that vote today, and he did so thanks in part to former Speaker Nancy Pelosi whipping votes for him,” he added.

Hayes said Connolly's victory "feels like a moment of genuine madness.”

“Now, Pelosi whipped votes to make sure that Connolly got the Oversight job over the young star in the party, even as the 84-year-old Pelosi is recovering from hip surgery after suffering a fall,” Hayes said.

Ocasio-Cortez had argued for Democrats to embrace a newer generation of leaders, an idea that has gained steam after Biden's ill-fated run, and which seemed to help unseat other senior Democrats this week from committee chairs. However, this trend did not extend to the high-profile Oversight panel, with the caucus voting 131-84 in favor of Connolly.

The Hill has reached out to Connolly and Pelosi’s offices for comment.

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