Top Democrats are discussing who will replace Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) as chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and their choice could have profound impacts on how the U.S. uses its power abroad particularly if Democrats retain control of the chamber and win the White House in Novembers elections .

While the result in Engels primary is not yet finalized, challenger Jamaal Bowman is expected to prevail in New Yorks 16th Congressional District after the final vote-counting, which began Wednesday, concludes. If, as currently seems likely, Democrats keep their House majority, that would leave Engels chairmanship a powerful position on a powerful committee up for grabs in next years Congress. And congressional Democrats would have a key chance to grapple with their foreign policy record including how past mistakes enabled the rise of President Donald Trump .

They could squander it.

The chairmanship contest has narrowed down to two contenders, congressional sources say: Reps. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) and Brad Sherman (D-Calif.). Both told HuffPost they are not running for anything until all the votes in Engels race are counted.

Sharp criticism of Engels hawkish record featured heavily in the primary campaign thats all-but-certain to unseat him. Despite that, with either Meeks or Sherman presumably set to take the committee helm, neither is seen as likely to use the post to push for the transformation of the U.S. role in the world that some progressives want the Democratic Party to spearhead .

At the same time, allies of both lawmakers suggest they see some lessons in Engels sudden fall and the rise of new voices in the party who question how America often violently maintains its global dominance.

The Power Of The Gavel

The Foreign Affairs Committee considers most legislation affecting international relations, oversees the State Department and the U.S Agency for International Development, hosts hearings where top officials are grilled on their national security choices, receives advance notice on plans to export American weapons and helps decide when Congress will exert its authority over war and peace.

The support of the panels chairman is crucial for Democrats pushing foreign policy changes, particularly because Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) often defer to them, a House aide told HuffPost.

The aide cited the years-long fight to end U.S. support for a Saudi-led intervention in Yemen, one of the most consequential congressional campaigns on international relations in recent memory. Engel eventually backed that effort and helped it gain traction, along with Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), chair of the House Armed Services Committee.

When we have gotten things done, its because [those two chairs] are lined up, said the aide, who requested anonymity to discuss maneuverings on Capitol Hill.