Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig was elected Tuesday as the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, giving her the responsibility of leading her party on farm policy in a new Congress controlled by Republicans who may try to slash spending and roll back the Biden administration's climate agenda.
Craig defeated California Rep. Jim Costa, 121-91, in a vote by the full Democratic caucus that ratified the recommendation of the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. The incumbent ranking member, David Scott of Georgia, dropped out of the race after losing out at the steering committee.
Craig's victory gives Minnesota both top Democratic spots on the House and Senate Ag committees. Sen. Amy Klobuchar is set to replace Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow, who is retiring, on Senate Ag.
“What my message to Democrats has been is we can't lose the middle of the country and gain the presidency,” Craig said. “We can't lose the middle of the country and earn the support of all voters.”
She told reporters she has a good relationship with House Ag Chair Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., as well as other Republicans on the committee like Reps. Dusty Johnson from South Dakota and Randy Feenstra from Iowa.
As co-chairs of the Congressional Biofuel Caucus, Craig and Johnson have partnered on some legislation like efforts to codify year-round E15.
The committee will likely be charged with both writing a new farm bill in the next Congress and developing portions of a budget reconciliation bill in 2025 that address programs under its jurisdiction. Republicans may target some programs for cuts, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. President-elect Donald Trump also has pledged to gut President Joe Biden's climate agenda.
Craig said that given Republican margins in the House, Thompson needs to be prepared to negotiate for a bipartisan farm bill.
She also added that the entire committee needs to “get out of this town as much as we can” to connect with family farmers across the country.
This was Costa’s second effort to win the top role, after a 2020 bid where he lost against current Ranking Member David Scott.
"I think she’ll be outstanding. She can work with all aspects of the caucus, but she understands production agriculture," said former House Agriculture Chairman Collin Peterson, D-Minn.
Craig's district, which is less rural than Peterson, is a mix of suburbs in the southern Minneapolis-St. Paul area, and farming areas south of that.
“She’s very moderate. She’s very practical. She was a business person before she came to congress and she learned the ag business because she’s really paid attention. She’s gone out and spent time with the farmers," Peterson said.
In her bid for ranking member, Craig emphasized her sizeable win in a competitive rural district, even as Democrats across the country struggled in those spaces. As ranking member, she has said she would focus on working across the aisle while standing firm on Democratic values like protecting nutrition and conservation programs.
In her pitch to the steering committee Monday, Craig said she also pointed out a lack of ranking members that represent middle America.
Craig’s selection signals a continued generational shift in the Democratic leadership. Scott, 79, served as the top Dem on the panel from 2021 through this Congress. However, he’s faced persistent questions about his health, and party leaders didn’t step in to protect him from challengers in this latest election.
Noah Wicks contributed to this report.
