The contest to lead Democrats on the House Agriculture Committee promises to shake up the minority side’s environmental priorities as a much-delayed five-year farm bill moves through the committee next year.
Reps. Jim Costa of California and Angie Craig of Minnesota are competing to replace David Scott of Georgia as the panel’s ranking member. Scott, 79, has had health challenges that recently forced him to miss votes, and he’s likely to lose his hold on the seat.
The Democratic Steering Committee is scheduled to make a recommendation to the full party caucus Monday. When the committee is seated in January, the top priority will be to resume work on the farm bill; the 2018 measure that expired Sept. 30 is expected to be extended for a year as Congress finishes business for 2024.
The two challengers are as different as their states.
