House & Senate Ag Committee Shakeups Likely in Today’s Election

By Ryan Hanrahan

As Americans head to the polls today for election day, “one-fourth of the members of the House Agriculture Committee are in tight re-election races, according to political handicappers, a factor in the likely upheaval of the committee roster in 2025,” Successful Farming’s Chuck Abbott reports. “Turnover is a fact of life on the committee — only half of its current members served on the panel two years ago.”

“While most Americans live in town, rural districts are expected to play a prominent role in deciding whether Republicans will continue to control the House or if Democrats will have a majority. Thirteen of the 43 most competitive races involve House Agriculture Committee members,” Abbott reported.

“Five of them are in toss-up races: Republicans Marc Molinaro of New York State, John Duarte of California, Lori Chavez-DeRemer of Oregon, and Democrats Yadira Caraveo of Colorado and Marie Glusenkamp-Perez of Washington State,” Abbott reported. “Seven are regarded as slight favorites; Republicans Zach Nunn of Iowa and Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin, and Democrats Jahana Hayes of Connecticut, Don Davis of North Carolina, Eric Sorensen of Illinois, Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico, and Angie Craig of Minnesota. Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska is rated as an underdog in a rematch against Democrat Tony Vargas in the Omaha area.”

“Two Democratic members of the committee are certain to leave. Rep. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan is running for the Senate and Rep. Abigail Spanberger is running for governor of Virginia. Both of those seats are highly contested,” Abbott reported. “The leaders of the 54-member committee, Chairman Glenn Thompson, a Pennsylvania Republican, and senior Democrat David Scott of Georgia, were safe bets for re-election, as were most of the committee’s members.”

“Representatives (also) routinely change committees as they gain House seniority and try to align their assignments with the makeup of their districts,” Abbott reported. “The ‘churn’ in membership could slow committee work temporarily. Agriculture Committee leaders often speak of the need to educate newcomers to the complexity and scope of the farm bill, sure to lead their agenda in January if there is no agreement during the lame duck session opening next week.”

One particular race of interest is in Iowa’s 3rd district, Politico’s Grace Yarrow and Marcia Brown reported. “For Iowa’s 3rd district, the Selzer poll showed that a Democratic candidate generally has a 7-point advantage over a Republican, which is in the margin of error. That’s the district where House Ag Republican Rep. Zach Nunn is facing off with former USDA official Lannon Baccam.”

“Both Nunn and Baccam have touted their agriculture policy records on the campaign trail and in advertising. Nunn’s campaign is arguing that his farm experience — and endorsements from the Iowa Corn Growers and Iowa Farm Bureau — prove his agriculture bona fides,” Yarrow and Brown reported. “But his Democratic challenger has countered that Nunn ‘let the Farm Bill expire twice, making it difficult for farmers to plan and stay competitive with Big Ag.'”

Senate Ag Committee Changes Coming, Too

Roll Call’s Olivia M. Bridges reported that “the Senate Agriculture Committee will see a new leader in the next Congress regardless of the results of (this) week’s election as the current chairwoman, Debbie Stabenow, reaches the end of her 24-year Senate career.”

“Ranking member John Boozman, R-Ark., would likely take the gavel if Republicans secure the majority. Boozman became the top panel Republican in the 117th Congress after the retirement of Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan.,” Bridges reported. “The Democratic side isn’t quite as clear, but Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., looks most likely to take the party’s top Senate Agriculture position — chairwoman or ranking member, depending on who has the majority.”

“Boozman wants the panel to remain bipartisan, an approach that is often necessary — but not always taken — to bring the nutrition focus of urban Democrats and the farm focus of rural Republicans together in legislation such as the farm bill,” Bridges reported. “…Klobuchar looks like the front-runner to lead the Democrats on the panel. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, has more seniority, but Brown’s race for reelection is rated a toss-up by Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales. And if Brown wins, he’s expected to keep his position as the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee.”