Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.) on Thursday was elected chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for the 2022 cycle, narrowly defeating Rep. Tony Cardenás (D-Calif.) 119 to 107, Politico reports.
Why it matters: Maloney will be tasked with protecting House Democrats' slim majority in 2022 after they underperformed in November's election, losing seats in down-ballot races across the country.
- The 2022 election will take place after redistricting, which could hand Republicans enough of an advantage to take back the majority.
- Maloney will also be responsible for keeping an emboldened left-wing flank happy, after progressives like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) explicitly called out the DCCC for its campaign failures in 2020.
- Some of the party's moderates, meanwhile, have called for a ban on progressive slogans like "defund the police" that they believe cost vulnerable members their seats.
Go deeper: Maloney vows to end ban against political consultants who worked for primary challengers
