Despite her absence from the Capitol as she recovers from hip replacement surgery in Luxembourg, Pelosi has been whipping votes to kill Ocasio-Cortez’s bid to become the ranking member on the House Oversight Committee. Her opposition to the star lawmaker signals her praise of younger Democrats challenging senior leadership doesn’t extend to all members.

The party’s steering committee selected Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), who had the backing of Pelosi, over Ocasio-Cortez during its meeting Monday evening, and the New Democrat Coalition, a center-left group of House Democrats, endorsed Connolly on Friday. Pelosi has been making calls and campaigning on behalf of Connolly, according to Punchbowl News and Axios.

Ocasio-Cortez is planning on remaining in the run ahead of the full caucus vote, one House Democrat confirmed to the Washington Examiner.

However, she will still have to reckon with Pelosi’s sway over the broader caucus. Her support for Connolly comes just days after she heaped praise on the idea that younger Democrats were stepping up and trying to lead committees.

In an interview with the Catholic National Reporter last week, Pelosi said she was in favor of younger members running for leadership roles.  

“I’m supporting the newer members who are running for office,” Pelosi said. “This is with all the respect in the world for the chairmen who had been there and the contribution that they had made over time. But now others have come forward.”

“I respect the fact that they’re ready to take charge of their committees, and I support that,” she said.

Connolly, at 74, is twice as old as the 35-year-old Ocasio-Cortez. He also announced days after the election that he has esophageal cancer, which could complicate his attendance in Congress next year.

Despite some Democrats pointing out that Ocasio-Cortez’s communication skills would be a benefit to the party on such a high-profile committee that relies heavily on messaging to communicate its work, Pelosi appears still to have doubts about the leading “Squad” member.

The two have had a rocky relationship since Ocasio-Cortez ousted then-Rep. Joe Crowley in a primary contest in 2018.

Pelosi has been in the House since 1987 and has grappled with corralling “Squad” members who rode into Congress as outsiders into operating inside the institution rather than agitating against it.

Ocasio-Cortez is not the only Democrat bucking tradition and trying to displace more senior members. Several lawmakers are challenging senior leaders, signaling a possible new trend in the Democratic Party to have fresh voices to oppose President-elect Donald Trump and the Republicans’ agenda.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) challenged his friend, longtime Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), to lead Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee. On Monday, Rep. David Scott (D-GA) dropped his fight to keep his position as the ranking member on the Agriculture Committee, clearing the way for Reps. Jim Costa (D-CA) and Angie Craig (D-MN) to fight for the job.