Rep. Robert Garcia was elected the top Democrat on the powerful House Oversight Committee on Tuesday, charting a new direction for the party's opposition to congressional Republicans and President Donald Trump's administration.

Garcia, 47, in just his second term, defeated a more senior lawmaker to succeed the late Rep. Gerry Connolly on the panel, which provides oversight of the Trump administration.

Garcia is an up-and-coming sophomore from California who promised to usher in a new generation of leadership for Democrats on the committee.