Craig Wins First-Round Vote for House Democratic Ag Leader

Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig, elected four times from a swing district south of the Twin Cities, won the endorsement of the House Democratic Steering Committee on Monday to be the party’s leader on the Agriculture Committee beginning in January. The full Democratic caucus plans to vote on the post on Tuesday.

The party usually follows the committee’s recommendations but success is not guaranteed. Reps. David Scott of Georgia and Jim Costa of California also sought the Democatic top spot on the committee and could be candidates on Tuesday. Published reports said Scott would drop out.

“I’m ready to help us win back rural Americans, and with them, a strong Democratic majority,” said Craig, 52. “I look forward to earning the support of my colleagues across the full Democratic caucus tomorrow.”

Democrats have opted for new blood in two other contests for party leader, known as the ranking member, ahead of the new Trump administration. Scott, 79, was the first Black to chair the committee in 2020 and currently is the senior Democrat. Costa, 72, ran against Scott in 2020 for the chairmanship. There have been Capitol Hill whispers for the past couple of years that Scott, with a courtly and deliberate manner, was not aggressive enough in promoting Democratic priorities at committee hearings and in farm bill negotiations.

Trump won 64% of the vote in rural and small-town America in last month’s presidential election, compared to 51% in the suburbs and 38% in cities. His vote margin underlined Republican strength among rural voters.

“Right now, I worry that too many rural Americans don’t trust that Democrats have their best interests at heart,” said Craig in a letter to House Democrats when she entered the race. She said rural Americans “want us to show up and listen” to their concerns. “That’s what we as Democrats need to do: Show up and listen. And have a presence in Ag country.”

Ohio Rep. Marcy Kaptur said vote for Craig was strong but not unanimous among Steering Committee members, who heard from the three candidates before making its recommendation. “They were strong voices for agriculture and our caucus needs to get that out into the country,” said Kaptur. “I was a little surprised at the level of the vote.

If Craig wins the caucus vote, Minnesota women would be two of the “four corners” who oversee food and ag policy in Congress. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar is expected to become the senior Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee in the new session, with Sen. John Boozman, Arkansas Republican, becoming chairman. Rep. Glenn Thompson, Pennsylvania Republican, will return as House Agriculture chairman.