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Politics and Government News
MPR News Staff
Updated:

Rep. Angie Craig chosen as top Democrat on U.S House Agriculture Committee

A woman in a red jacket sits at a table
Minnesota 2nd District Rep. Angie Craig answers a question during a debate at the MPR News headquarters in St. Paul on Oct. 3.
Tim Evans for MPR News file

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Minnesota 2nd District Rep. Angie Craig was elected Tuesday to serve as the top Democrat on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee.

While Democrats will again be in the minority in the next Congress, Craig’s role as ranking member will give her a powerful position to help influence federal farm and nutrition program policy.

“I look forward to leading my Democratic colleagues in the spirit of Minnesota’s Second District,” Craig said in a statement following the vote. “That means not defaulting to the status quo of Washington, D.C. It means working to find compromise where we can, but fighting for our values where we must.”

Craig will begin her fourth term in Congress next month. She defeated a more-senior Democratic lawmaker — Rep. Jim Costa of California — for the party’s top spot on the ag committee. She and Costa were vying to replace longtime Rep. David Scott of Georgia as ranking member.

In her statement following the vote, Craig said she will focus “on improving people’s lives — not scoring political points. We can lower food and energy costs for consumers. We can strengthen the farm safety net and open the doors of opportunity to new and beginning farmers. And we can ensure that nutrition assistance programs are available for the Americans who need them.”

Fellow Minnesota U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum issued a statement saying that Craig “is the leader we need to help rebuild trust with America’s farmers, ranchers, and producers. She’ll also be a strong defender of the food and nutrition assistance that so many seniors and children rely on to stay healthy. Minnesotans and our nation will benefit from Congresswoman Craig’s leadership in this new role.”

The American Farm Bureau Federation said in a statement that Craig “has a long history of working in a bipartisan manner to advance the needs of America’s farmers and ranchers.” The group said it looked forward to working with Craig to pass a new five-year farm bill.

Craig won’t be the first Minnesotan to serve in a top role on the House Agriculture Committee in recent years. Former Minnesota Democratic Rep. Collin Peterson chaired the panel from 2007 to 2011, and again from 2019 to 2021.

And in the Senate — a Minnesotan may play a key role on that chamber’s Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee next year.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar is in line to serve as ranking member for the Democrats, after the previous chair — Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan — chose not to run for re-election this year.