Reps Eshoo, Pallone compete for Rep Waxman's job

Reps Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ) are squaring off to replace retiring Rep Henry Waxman (D-CA) as the top Democrat on the House Commerce Committee. Rep John Dingell (D-MI), the longest-serving member of Congress, might also jump in the race.

In separate statements, Reps Eshoo and Pallone said they have consulted with other Democratic lawmakers to seek the post on one of the House’s most powerful panels. The announcements set off an intriguing race between the two candidates, who will be vying for the support of their fellow Democrats. Decisions on ranking members and chairmen of panels are made by each party after the elections. Rep Pallone, who is in his 13th term in the House, has seniority on the panel over Rep Eshoo. But Rep Eshoo is a fellow member of Rep Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)’s California delegation -- the largest in the House -- and is a close ally of the minority leader. Rep Pallone has served as either chairman or ranking member of three of the committee’s six subcommittees and is currently the top Democrat on the Health subpanel, a position from which he helped to engineer the Democrats’ 2010 healthcare reform law. Rep Eshoo was first elected to the House in 1992 and is now the top Democrat on the Communications and Technology subcommittee. Her Silicon Valley district is a few miles from Rep Pelosi’s.