Rep. Jim Costa (D–Fresno) will not be the ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee.
House Democrats voted on Tuesday to select Rep. Angie Craig (D–Minn.) as the ranking member instead of Costa.
The big picture: Democrats voted 121 to 91 in favor of Craig during a closed-door secret ballot vote.
- Rep. David Scott (D–Ga.) also initially campaigned to remain in the position but dropped out after Democrats had concerns over his health at the age of 79.
State of play: Costa will continue as the second-ranking member of the Agriculture committee, where he has served since 2005.
- He is the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry and is a member of the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development as well as the Agriculture Labor Working Group.
- Costa also serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. He previously served on the House Committee on Natural Resources and the House Committee on Science.
What they’re saying: “I’d like to thank Congressman David Scott for his service and leadership to American agriculture in the last four years and congratulate Rep. Angie Craig on her election as Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee,” Costa said in a statement. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass a Farm Bill in the 119th Congress. By working together, we can achieve stronger results for our communities, rural and urban alike.”
