WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD-TV) — Americans are heading to the polls for the midterm elections, with changes expected on both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees.
House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig will not return to Congress after losing her Senate nomination earlier this year. Reps. Shontel Brown of Ohio and Jim Costa of California are competing to replace her as the committee’s top Democrat.
In the Senate, Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar is running for governor of Minnesota. If elected, she would leave Congress, putting Sen. Cory Booker in position to take over the committee’s top Democratic role.
The Senate Agriculture Committee is also losing several members to retirement, including Joni Ernst, Mitch McConnell, Dick Durbin and Tina Smith. Sen. Tommy Tuberville is running for governor of Alabama and did not seek reelection to the Senate.
On the Republican side of the House Agriculture Committee, Chairman G.T. Thompson has reached his six-year leadership limit and is seeking a waiver to remain in the position. Vice Chairman Austin Scott of Georgia is challenging him for the chairmanship.
Beyond the committee changes, Congress still has several pieces of unfinished legislation to address before its current term ends Jan. 3, including the farm bill.
The farm bill is awaiting a vote by the full Senate. Economists believe lawmakers may include its remaining provisions in a year-end legislative package rather than pass another temporary extension.
Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley has suggested the defense spending bill as one possible way to advance those provisions.
