Progressive Farmer’s Jake Zajkowski reported that “agriculture policy advocates face a major shake-up in the next Congress, with significant turnover possible on the House and Senate agriculture committees. At least nine House Agriculture Committee members and five Senate Agriculture Committee members are leaving Congress at the end of the 119th Congress, including leadership.”
“The House Agriculture Committee faces the confirmed departure of six members following retirements or primary defeats, while two members are running for other offices. Another six members face competitive midterm races that could cost them their seats,” Zajkowski reported. “In the Senate, four members are retiring, while two are seeking other offices.”
AgroLatam’s Marcus Ellington reported that “the House Agriculture Committee is losing several experienced members, including its top Democrat, Angie Craig of Minnesota, who lost her Senate primary. Her departure creates a leadership vacancy at a time when lawmakers must negotiate agricultural spending and the next farm bill.”
“Republicans Randy Feenstra of Iowa and Dusty Johnson of South Dakota also lost their gubernatorial primary campaigns, while Don Bacon of Nebraska and Dan Newhouse of Washington are retiring,” Ellington reported. “Other members leaving the House include Shri Thanedar of Michigan, who lost his primary, and Republicans Barry Moore of Alabama and John Rose of Tennessee, who are seeking other offices. Their exits will bring new lawmakers into discussions over agricultural policy and federal spending.”
“Changes are also coming to the Senate Agriculture Committee, where Republicans Joni Ernst of Iowa and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, along with Democrats Dick Durbin of Illinois and Tina Smith of Minnesota, are retiring,” Ellington reported. “Tommy Tuberville of Alabama and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota are running for governor.”
Brown, Costa Seek Top Democrat Seat on House Ag Committee
With the top leadership position open on the Democratic side of the aisle, Rep. Shontel Brown of Ohio and Rep. Jim Costa of California have announced their candidacies for the position.
The Hagstrom Report’s Jerry Hagstrom reported in September that “Rep. Shontel Brown, D-Ohio, current vice ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee, formally announced her candidacy (in September) to be the top Democrat on the committee in the next Congress, either chair or ranking member, depending on which party controls the House.”
“Brown said she is running on a platform of affordability, accountability and coalition-building, and pointed out that she is familiar with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which congressional Republicans and the Trump administration have restricted, and with farm programs,” Hagstrom reported.
Politico’s Grace Yarrow reported that “Rep. Jim Costa of California has formally launched a run Thursday to become the next top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, teeing up a showdown with Rep. Shontel Brown of Ohio.”
“Costa sent a letter to House Democrats on Thursday asking for their support and emphasizing his experience on the committee and goals of rebuilding bipartisan support for the farm bill while making the Trump administration ‘answer for its disastrous attempt to reorganize the USDA,'” Yarrow reported.
Ag Groups Readying to Educate Next Congress
AgWeb’s Michelle Rook reported that “regardless of who’s in power, farm groups are rolling up their sleeves and readying their members to educate and build alliances.”
“‘When those leadership positions are identified, we’re going to be in the room working with whoever is in leadership, making sure they understand the needs of agriculture and rural America,’ John Newton, vice president of public policy and economic analysis, American Farm Bureau Federation, says,” according to Rook’s reporting. “And with such a large freshman class in the 120th Congress, there will be a steep learning curve regarding agriculture.”
“‘We’ve got members that are coming in from across the country in February. So, our goal and our preparation is to make sure when this 120th Congress gets started, the Farm Bureau is in the room,’ Newton says,” Rook reported.
