While ag interests are still reeling with the defeat of House Ag Committee Chairman Collin Peterson, D-Minn., in Tuesday's election, Washington appears focused on who will take over that spot on the committee.
Many have talked of Rep. Marcy Fudge, D-Ohio, as a potential successor. Fudge chairs the Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations Subcommittee and has focused much of her attention on those programs as a member of the panel.
But Rep. David Scott, D-Ga., chairman of the Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit Subcommittee and number two in seniority on the Democratic side of the full committee, has thrown his hat into the ring to take over the top post.
While touting farm roots in Georgia in a deal colleague letter announcing he was seeking the chairman's gavel, Scott also said the core focus of the panel includes food, nutrition and financial resources.
His message to other lawmakers is that he would focus the panel on farm, food, nutrition and other issues. Noting he would be the first African American to chair the House Ag panel, Scott said if selected, he would have a “principled focus on addressing inequities in agriculture and advancing racial progress for all.”
Also making a push for the chair is Rep. Jim Costa, D-Calif., who falls right behind Scott in seniority on the committee for Democrats. Costa chairs the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture and has served on the committee since 2005. His district represents one of the major agricultural regions of California.