Maxine Waters Is At The Center Of A Backroom Democrat Civil War

House Democrats are headed for a fight over whether one of their most powerful committee posts should remain with Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), who will turn 90 during the next Congress.

Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL) is preparing to challenge Waters for the top Democratic position on the House Financial Services Committee, according to Politico, setting up a clash over seniority and generational change. Casten informed Waters of his interest this week, Semafor reported.

“I think it’s a pretty broad appetite in our caucus for generational change, and you can’t get a more glaring case for generational change … than an 88-year-old member, who will turn 90 before the next Congress is over, clinging to the gavel,” one senior House Democrat told Politico on condition of anonymity.

Waters was first elected to Congress in 1990 and has been the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee since 2013. She retains support from colleagues defending her experience. 

Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY), 38, is reportedly “fully behind future Chair Maxine Waters.”

“She is beloved in my district as Auntie Maxine,” said Torres. 

“I see Maxine’s wisdom not as a weakness but as a strength,” Torres added. “I can assure you Maxine Waters has more youthful energy than I will ever have in my life.”

Torres previously said it wasn’t ideal for former President Joe Biden to run at 80. 

A former House Democratic aide and Waters ally questioned Casten’s move, noting that he would be leapfrogging more senior lawmakers.

“It’s curious, but I don’t know if it’s concerning,” the former aide told Politico. “I think that it’s strange in the sense that he’d be jumping over a lot of people.”

But one member of the House Democratic steering committee backed Casten for the post.

“I have every confidence that as chair, he will be inclusive, good on the issues, and will use the platform to help the entire Democratic caucus,” the member reportedly said on condition of anonymity.

The fight over Waters’ future comes amid a broader debate within the Democratic Party over its aging leadership. Former President Barack Obama urged Democrats to elevate younger talent in February, though he did not single out Waters.

“There is an element of, at some point, you age out. You’re not connected directly to the immediate struggles that folks are going through,” Obama said.

Spokespeople for Waters and Casten did not respond to The Daily Wire’s requests for comment. Casten has not publicly stated that he plans to challenge Waters.