WASHINGTON — Rep. Angie Craig won her quest to become the highest-ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee as the nation’s farmers anxiously awaited negotiations in Congress concerning a massive farm bill.
Craig ran against the current ranking Democrat on the agriculture panel, Rep. David Scott of Georgia, and another challenger, Rep. Jim Costa of California.
Scott, who is 79 and in ill health, dropped out of the race Monday night after the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee voted to recommend Craig for the position.
That vote was followed by another Tuesday morning of the entire Democratic caucus, which voted 121-92 in favor of Craig over Costa, who had the support of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and California Democrats.
With Sen. Amy Klobuchar expected to be the top Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee in the next Congress, when the GOP takes control of the chamber, Minnesota should have an outsized influence on farm policy.
Congress has failed to approve a new five-year farm bill and instead extended the one approved in 2018 for a year. But that extension, which allowed the U.S. Department of Agriculture to continue to fund all of its programs, is about to expire.
So, Congress is trying to forge an agreement on a short-term funding bill that would extend the farm bill for another year. Details of the agreement have not been released, but it will include an additional $10 billion for the nation’s farmers and ranchers who say they are hurt by Congress’ inability to approve a new farm bill.
The high-stakes negotiations over a short-term budget bill that would contain new money for farmers and ranchers — called a continuing resolution or CR — are aimed at preventing a federal government shutdown this weekend, when the current legislation funding the federal agencies expires.
Craig’s campaign to be the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee was aided by her relationship with members of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, a panel she belongs to that includes House Democratic leaders and committee chairmen. The steering committee helps determine committee assignments and advises party leaders on policy.
Rep. Betty McCollum, D-4th District, who is also a member of the steering committee, campaigned on Craig’s behalf.
“Minnesotans and our nation will benefit from Congresswoman Craig’s leadership in this new role, and I’m grateful for the vote of confidence that our colleagues placed in her,” McCollum said in a statement released after Tuesday’s vote.
Craig, 52, was also helped by the desire of many Democrats for a new generation of party leaders. In addition, her pitch as a Midwesterner and centrist Democrat who can speak to rural voters resonated with her colleagues.
The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation and the Minnesota Farmers Union both endorsed Craig’s bid.
“Representative Craig has a proven track record of bringing people together around bipartisan solutions,” the farmers union said in a statement. “We’re glad that she will be joining Senator Klobuchar as a leading voice in farm bill discussions.”
Craig, who represents the “purple” 2nd District composed of Twin Cities suburbs and rural areas, said she was honored to be selected the top Democrat on a House panel that will try again to craft a new farm bill.
“I just won my D+1 district by nearly 14 points because my farmers and rural constituents know that I’ll meet them where they’re at, I’ll listen to their concerns and I’ll work with whoever I can to improve their lives,” she said in a statement.
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