House Appropriations Chair Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., the first woman to lead the panel, announced Thursday she will not seek reelection in 2020. That has set off a potential contest to replace her atop the panel that controls government purse strings.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., announced she will seek the top position, a move that would put a sharp critic of the current administration’s food safety and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in charge of the panel that decides on House versions of government spending.
DeLauro also has pushed a means test and other restrictions on crop insurance to limit its use by large farms.
But Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, is also mentioned as a possible contender and is the second-ranking Democrat on the panel – DeLauro is the third-ranking Democrat in terms of seniority.
However, Democrats have not relied solely on seniority relative to full committee chair roles.
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