A dozen elections today may influence food and agriculture policy nationally, They range from the Kansas race that could determine the next chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee to referendums on soda taxes and GMO labeling. Following is a list of races to watch, moving from east to west across the country:
Florida – Second-term Republican Steve Southerland, a Tea Party conservative who proposed the biggest food stamp cuts in a generation, is challenged by Democrat Gwen Graham, in a Panhandle district that includes the state capital of Tallahassee. Graham is daughter of Bob Graham, popular former senator and governor. The district leans conservative but Democrats far outnumber Republicans in voter registration. Polls close 8 p.m. ET.
Kentucky – Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, a member of the Agriculture Committee, is challenged by Allison Grimes, Democrat and Kentucky secretary of state. McConnell could become majority leader if Republicans win control of the Senate. McConnell was sponsor of a 2014 farm bill provision allowing tests of hemp as an industrial crop. Grimes faulted McConnell for missing many Agriculture Committee sessions in recent years. Polls close 8 p.m. ET.
Arkansas – Conservative first-term Rep Tom Cotton, a Republican, is challenging second-term Sen Mark Pryor, Democrat and chairman of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee, which oversees funding for USDA, FDA and the CFTC. Pryor has criticized Cotton for voting against the 2014 farm law. Cotton says it was a food stamp bill. Polls close 8:30 p.m. ET.
Iowa – Conservative Republican Steve King, seeking his seventh term representing northwestern Iowa in the House, is challenged by Democrat Jim Mowrer, a military veteran. King chairs the House Agriculture subcommittee in charge of public nutrition and wants to examine the food stamp program for reforms and cost savings. Polls close 10 p.m. ET.
Illinois – First-term Rep Rodney Davis, a narrow winner in 2012, is challenged by Democrat Ann Callis, a former county judge. Davis is a critic of school lunch reforms and was an early advocate of a waiver for schools from the rules. Polls close 8 p.m. ET.
Minnesota – Collin Peterson, the Democratic leader on the House Agriculture Committee, is challenged by Republican state Sen Torrey Westrom in a Republican-leaning district that covers the western one-third of the state. Peterson, Agriculture chairman during the drafting of the 2008 farm law, backed the new dairy supports of the 2014 farm law and continuation of the sugar program. He is seeking his 13th term. The race attracted millions of dollars in outside spending. Poll close 9 p.m. ET.
Kansas – Third-term Sen Pat Roberts, who says he will chair the Senate Agriculture Committee if Republicans win control of the Senate, is challenged by independent Greg Orman, a wealthy businessman. Roberts was the House sponsor of the “freedom to farm” law of 1996 that removed most federal controls over what farmers grow, a landmark in scaling back the government role in agriculture. Roberts is a supporter of federally subsidized crop insurance. During debate on the 2014 farm law, he called for large cuts in food stamp and voted against the bill in the end. Orman says federal crop insurance “is critical to ensuring a vibrant agricultural economy.” Polls close 9 p.m. ET.
Colorado – A statewide referendum, Proposition 105, would require special labels on foods made with genetically modified organisms from Jan 1, 2015. For raw foods, labels could be posted on the shelf or bin. Animal feed, food sold in restaurants and alcoholic beverages would be exempt. Proposition 105 would not allow private lawsuits for violations. Oregon’s Question 92 allows state and citizen lawsuits over violations. Polls close at 9 p.m. ET.
Oregon – A statewide referendum, Measure 92, would require labeling of foods made with genetically modified organisms from January 2016; for raw foods, a label can be placed on the shelf or bin. Animal feed and food sold in restaurants are exempt from labeling. Measure 92 allows state and citizen lawsuits over violations. This is the third year in a row of GMO voting in the Pacific Northwest. Similar proposals were narrowly defeated in California in 2012 and in Washington state in 2013. Polls close at 11 p.m. ET.
Berkeley, California – Measure D, a “soda tax” referendum, would set a 1 cent-per-ounce tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, such as sodas, energy drinks and sweetened teas. The tax is projected to raise from $1 million-$3 million a year and requires a simple majority for passage. Exempt from the tax would be diet drinks, milk products, 100% juices, baby formula, alcohol and “drinks taken for” medical reasons.
San Francisco – A “soda tax” referendum, Measure E, would put a 2 cent-per-ounce tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, defined as nonalcoholic fluids with added sweeteners with more than 25 calories per ounce. A two-thirds majority is needed for passage because the revenue would be earmarked for nutrition and physical education programs in schools and projects such as water-bottle filing stations. It would not apply to milk, 100 percent fruit and vegetable juices, infant formula, medical food, nutritional therapy food or diet food.
Maui County, Hawaii – The first-ever initiative in the county would prohibit cultivation of genetically engineered crops until an environmental and public health study is conducted and concludes the crops are harmless. Seed company Monsanto has test plots on the island. Penalties would be as high as $50,000 a day for violations along with the possibility of a year in prison. Polls close at 11 p.m. ET.
There are several other races that involve farm states and members of the Agriculture committees. In Iowa, Republican Joni Ernst and Democrat Bruce Braley vie for the Senate seat being vacated by Tom Harkin, a prominent sponsor of public nutrition and soil conservation programs. Along with Kansas and Arkansas, the Iowa race could determine control of the Senate.
Three House Agriculture Committee members are regarded as highly vulnerable – Democrats Bill Enyart of Illinois and Rick Nolan of Minnesota and Republican Vance McAllister of Louisiana. All three are junior members of the committee.