Pelosi’s pick wins Round 1 for House Commerce Committee

The race for top Democrat on the powerful House Commerce Committee is headed for a high-stakes vote in the full Democratic Caucus. The party's Steering and Policy Committee voted 30 to 19 in favor of Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) over Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ) to replace retiring Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) as the ranking member on the influential panel.

The vote provides some indication of the power Rep Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) exerts over the Steering and Policy panel; the minority leader has come out in strong favor of Rep Eshoo over the more senior Rep Pallone. But Pallone's tally was high enough that, under party rules, he was able to appeal for a second vote of the full caucus