By The old guard of the Democrats simply refuse to leave their positions. Rep. Maxine Waters is preparing for a possible return to one of Congress’s most influential financial oversight roles, as Democrats look ahead to November and the prospect of reclaiming the House majority.
Waters, the California Democrat long known on the left as “Auntie Maxine,” is positioning herself to once again chair the House Financial Services Committee—a post she previously held from 2019 to 2023—should her party regain control. If elevated, Waters, who turns 88 later this year, would become the oldest chair in the committee’s history.
The panel holds sweeping jurisdiction over banking, housing, insurance, the Federal Reserve, and emerging financial sectors such as cryptocurrency—placing its chair at the center of economic policymaking and federal oversight. A Democratic majority would also likely bring renewed scrutiny of the president, his family’s business dealings, and regulatory leadership tied to Wall Street.
Despite ongoing conversations within the Democratic Party about generational turnover, Waters faces little meaningful resistance, writes Politico. Senior committee members continue to back her, as does House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is widely expected to become speaker if Democrats win back the chamber.
In a statement, Jeffries praised Waters, saying she “has led the Financial Services Committee with vision, intellect, passion and skill.” He added, “It’s my expectation that such iconic leadership will continue in the 120th Congress.”
Waters, for her part, has brushed aside concerns about age. “If you take a look at my energy and what I do — I am Auntie Maxine,” she told the outlet. “I’m the one who popularized ‘reclaiming my time.’ … I don’t know who’s got more energy, more concern. And so, Maxine Waters seems to be doing alright.”
Fellow Democrats have largely echoed that assessment. Rep. Sean Casten of Illinois framed the issue as one of capability rather than years, noting, “I am a firm believer that when people are visibly past their time, it’s time to sort of have some hard conversations.” He added, “That’s a mental issue, not an age issue. And I don’t have any concern that she’s mentally up for the job.”
Others offered similar endorsements. Rep. Greg Meeks of New York said Waters “hasn’t lost a step,” while Rep. Brad Sherman of California described her as “the same person today” as when they first met decades ago. Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, despite past policy disagreements, said she is “still hitting her three-pointer.”
Waters has also drawn sustained criticism over the years for a pattern of incendiary rhetoric, particularly during moments of national tension. During the unrest following the 1992 Rodney King verdict in Los Angeles, she publicly defended the anger of demonstrators and later urged federal authorities to more aggressively prosecute officers involved. More recently, she faced backlash in 2018 after encouraging supporters to confront members of the Trump administration in public, telling a crowd that officials should be told “they’re not welcome anymore, anywhere.”
I’m 2018, she called on her supporters to attack Republicans while they were at restaurants or stores.
In 2021, amid heightened tensions surrounding the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, Waters again sparked controversy when she told demonstrators to “stay on the street” and “get more confrontational” if the verdict did not go as they hoped—remarks that prompted criticism from Republican lawmakers and even drew concern from the presiding judge in the case, who warned such comments could complicate the proceedings.
Republicans have repeatedly cited these episodes as evidence of a willingness to inflame political divisions, particularly as Waters would be positioned to oversee financial institutions and regulatory agencies with significant influence over the national economy. Supporters, however, argue that her rhetoric reflects longstanding advocacy on issues of racial justice and economic inequality, and note that she has maintained strong backing within her caucus despite periodic controversy.
The renewed attention to Waters’ leadership bid comes as both parties prepare for a closely contested election cycle that will determine control of the House.
[Read More: Dem Leader Admits The Plan Is To Hurt People]
