Jeffries beat out two Californians in his choice to head the DCCC.

New House Minority Leader Hakim Jeffreys (DN.Y.) on Tuesday named Susan DelBen (D-Wash.) to chair the Democratic House caucus in the House, bypassing two Californians who were actively seeking the post.

“She is the right leader, with the right experience and the right demeanor to meet this turning point,” said Jeffreys, who will take over the reins of outgoing House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) next month.

His decision is a blow to representatives. Ami Bera (D-Elk Grove) and Tony Cardenas (D-Pacoima), who both showed interest in this work. They put forward their candidacy for this post when he was still among the leadership positions of the party, the decision on which was decided in the general election.

But last month, the Democrats instead decided to give Jeffreys the right to choose the head of the DCCC, subject to approval by the full assembly.

Cardenas was jump first to the DCCC race, building on its record-breaking Congressional Hispanic caucus campaign fundraiser, BOLD PAC, in the November caucus. 11 letters to colleagues.

He announced his candidacy a few days laterhighlighting his experience with the DCCC as its forward chairman who was responsible for protecting vulnerable officials in combat areas.

Their race has taken a nasty turn, especially against the backdrop of a House Democratic leadership election that has been unusually civil this year.

Critics of Cárdenas echoed reports of a 2019 lawsuit alleging he molested a 16-year-old girl years earlier.

Cardenas denied the allegations and the woman later dropped the lawsuit.

Bera’s candidacy also came with some baggage, as his opponents reiterated that his father was convicted in 2016 after prosecutors tracked down “illegal donations of at least $260,000 sent through donors but secretly paid to Bera’s elders through several bank accounts used to further cover his tracks.” ” The Times reported.

Delbene’s appointment adds another woman to the House Democratic leadership team, which includes new Minority Representative Katherine Clark (D-Massachusetts).

She won a special election in 2012 to replace a former member of the House of Representatives. Jay Inslee (Washington State), who became governor.

“Democrats are committed to showing Americans that governance can work by promoting policies that matter to families, workers and communities and resisting Republican extremism and MAGA chaos,” DelBene said in a statement Tuesday.