Agriculture Committees Face Leadership Overhaul

Democratic majorities in both chambers of Congress will immediately change who leads the House and Senate Agriculture Committees. New leadership and heavy member turnover will alter the farm policy agenda for 2027.

In the House, Democratic Ranking Member Angie Craig is leaving Congress. This opens the race for the top Democratic spot on the committee. California Representative Jim Costa and Ohio Representative Shontel Brown are competing for the position. With Democrats holding the majority, the winner will likely become committee chairman.

Republicans face their own leadership contest. Current Chairman Glenn Thompson has reached the party’s six year limit and is seeking a waiver to stay. Georgia Representative Austin Scott is also seeking the top Republican position on the panel.

The Senate Agriculture Committee will see similar shifts. Democratic Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar won the Minnesota governor’s race and is leaving the Senate. Colorado Senator Michael Bennet is the leading contender for the chairmanship based on seniority. Arkansas Senator John Boozman is positioned to become the top Republican on the panel.

Turnover extends beyond the leaders. At least 12 members of the current House Agriculture Committee will not return. Republicans Zach Nunn of Iowa, Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin, Monica De La Cruz of Texas and Rob Bresnahan of Pennsylvania lost reelection Tuesday. They join Craig, Don Bacon, Dan Newhouse, Randy Feenstra, Dusty Johnson, Barry Moore, John Rose and Shri Thanedar, who are leaving due to retirement, primary defeats or other campaigns. California Representative David Valadao’s race remained unresolved early Wednesday.

The Senate Agriculture Committee will lose at least seven current members. Republicans Joni Ernst, Mitch McConnell and Tommy Tuberville are leaving, along with Democrats Dick Durbin and Tina Smith. Kansas Representative Roger Marshall lost reelection Tuesday, and Klobuchar’s gubernatorial victory adds another major departure.

Congress still has unfinished work on the farm bill. Debates over crop insurance, nutrition, conservation, commodity programs, agricultural trade, livestock policy and rural development continue. The new committees will enter these discussions with different membership and less institutional experience.