Illinois Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi is stepping down as the top Democrat on the select House committee on competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, he announced Monday.
Krishnamoorthi did not explain the reason for the move in a statement but is expected to focus on his Senate campaign for the seat being vacated by Democrat Dick Durbin.
The panel has been generally lauded as a bipartisan effort to investigate and analyze economic and political matters surrounding the Chinese government under President Xi Jinping.
“I look forward to working closely with them to ensure that Democrats on this Committee continue to succeed, advancing policies that allow the United States to compete and win while remaining firmly grounded in the values that define us,” Krishnamoorthi said.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Monday that Rep. Ro Khanna of California would take over as the top Democrat for the remainder of the 119th Congress.
“We thank Ro for his continued determination, strong sense of purpose and commitment to the work needed to safeguard our economy, defend our national security and protect human rights around the world,” he said.