House Democrats have largely set their team for countering President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda next year.
While the caucus is still making other Democratic committee heads official, they decided several contested panel leader elections Tuesday morning, with uncontested elections for leadership recommendations later in the day. House Democrats largely saw the contested races to lead Democrats on the Oversight, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committees as a check on seniority in the caucus — and a way to instill fresher talent from the ranks.
On the Natural Resources panel, Rep. Jared Huffman (Calif.) is replacing Rep. Raúl Grijalva (Ariz.), who ended his bid to lead Democrats on the panel again. On the Agriculture panel, Rep. Angie Craig (Minn.) beat Rep. David Scott (Ga.), who faced questions about his health and finished in a distant third in an internal caucus panel election before dropping out of the race. On Oversight, Rep. Gerry Connolly (Va.) defeated Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), though both would have represented new leadership after Rep. Jamie Raskin (Md.) launched a bid for the ranking position on Judiciary.
Although they won’t hold gavels, House Democrats are looking to counter the incoming Republican trifecta and Trump however they can. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi played a prominent role on that front during his first term, and personally backed two of the three new ranking members on key positions.
Heading into the next Congress, Democrats had fretted about their aging leaders’ ability to respond to conservative policy changes on the farm bill in the Agriculture Committee and in energy policy on Natural Resources. They also see high-profile panels like the Oversight Committee as a messaging bulwark against the Trump administration.
Here’s what the new rankers will do from their leadership perches:
Oversight and Accountability Committee
Connolly, a seasoned investigator, told reporters Tuesday that he’s experienced at countering Trump, and his strategy to fight Republicans was going to be “to tell the truth.”
“And if that hurts, then we know we’ve made our mark,” Connolly said. He added that “we will do a thorough assessment of the committee on the Democratic side and make appropriate changes.”
Connolly had earned plaudits from his colleagues for his tenure on the Oversight panel, where he worked on Postal Service issues and currently serves as the top Democrat on a subpanel on cybersecurity.
His allies also pointed to his deep well of relationships in the Democratic caucus, including in the centrist New Democrat Coalition, which had backed him during the elections for the top spot on the panel.
“He’s bright, he’s witty,” said Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), who helped campaign for Connolly. “I’ve seen him on the Foreign Affairs committee, taking charge of the issue, particularly when the Republicans are overstepping, etc., as well as doing it in a way that brings us all together. … And I think that’s who Gerry is.”
Connolly said he was diagnosed with cancer in a statement after the election. In private conversations as he sought the top Oversight spot, Connolly said he has pledged to his colleagues that he will be transparent about the status of his diagnosis, including if it were to unexpectedly worsen.
Natural Resources Committee
Huffman is now in a key position to challenge Republicans’ effort to enact Trump’s planned “drill, baby, drill” push.
The Californian has a decade of experience on the committee and is known for his frequent sparring with Republicans, plus policy chops that he developed when he worked as an attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council. He was a leader among Democrats clamoring for a generational change atop committee leadership.
In taking over the panel that oversees federal lands issues, including energy production and permitting, Huffman told reporters Tuesday he planned to aggressively defend against Republicans’ “Project 2025 agenda” while building on Grijalva’s legacy to “put environmental justice first and really lifted up his disadvantaged communities that bear the brunt of the climate crisis.”
Huffman had the backing of the large and powerful California delegation, including Pelosi, who he thanked “for her advice and support.” Huffman’s backers cited his knowledge of environmental and climate issues, advocacy for tribes and environmental justice, and his pragmatic streak, along with his work raising money for colleagues on the committee and in the caucus running in tough districts.
Agriculture Committee
Craig’s defeat of Scott and Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.) will make her the first woman ranking member of the House Agriculture panel, which some of her supporters touted as a shot at the “boys club” of panel leadership, according to one House Democratic lawmaker who was granted anonymity to discuss the internal caucus dynamics.
It’s also a loss for Pelosi, who was advocating for Costa, her fellow Californian, along with the state’s powerful delegation, behind the scenes. In comments to reporters right after her win, Craig noted it wasn’t easy overcoming the “powerful California” delegation.
In a series of closed-door meetings over the past week, Craig made an aggressive pitch to Democratic House members, citing her credentials as a frontline Democrat from a rural district. She also argued during the closed-door Steering panel meeting that the party needed a Midwestern battleground Democrat in committee leadership to balance out the many senior Democratic leaders hailing from the coasts.
Craig is incredibly well-liked by a wide swath of members, especially younger members who are growing their ranks. Young female members, especially on the Agriculture Committee, wanted to help her climb.