Who's going to lead the telecom panel?

Get ready for speculation over who will take over as top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee, whose jurisdiction covers everything from broadband and net neutrality to media ownership and online liability protections, a coveted spot among lawmakers. Rep Mike Doyle (D-PA) replaced Rep Anna Eshoo (D-CA) as the subcommittee’s top Democrat in 2017 and became chair in 2019. Doyle has prioritized efforts to restore Obama-era net neutrality regulations that were repealed during the Trump years. The position will open in early 2023, when Rep Doyle leaves Congress after more than a quarter-century. Among his potential successors are senior Democrats like Reps G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) and Doris Matsui (D-CA). A person close to Matsui, who serves as Doyle’s vice chair and co-chairs the Spectrum Caucus, reached out to Politico shortly after the announcement, telling him that she would be a “terrific choice.” Her office did not comment.