WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Jerry Nadler announced Wednesday that he will step down as the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee next year, avoiding an intraparty fight over a prominent position as the party prepares for a second Trump presidency.
Nadler’s decision to relinquish control of the powerful committee came a day after fellow Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin announced his bid for the job and quickly gathered support from colleagues.
“I am also proud that, under my leadership, some of our caucus’ most talented rising stars have been given a platform to showcase their leadership and capabilities,” Nadler wrote in the letter to Democrats, which was obtained by The Associated Press. “That includes Jamie Raskin, who in just a few terms in Congress has already proven himself to be an exceptional leader and spokesperson for our party’s values.”
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The 77-year-old chose to step aside as the Democratic party undergoes an internal reckoning over their election losses, giving Republicans in Washington a trifecta of power. Many Democrats are longing for a generational change and a new approach as newly elected President Donald Trump returns to the White House.
The decision by Nadler, who is serving his seventeenth term in Congress, reflects that generational change. Before making his decision Wednesday morning, Nadler spoke with the staff about what his next step should be. He also called Raskin, which was described as cordial by a person familiar with the conversation who was not authorized to discuss it publicly.
“Jerry Nadler is an extraordinary lawyer, patriot and public servant,” Raskin wrote on X. “His tenacious defense of civil rights and civil liberties is a great inspiration to our people.”
He added: “I am honored and humbled to have his support in the battle ahead.”
