Eight-term Rep. Jim Costa, who represents an agricultural district around Fresno in California’s Central Valley, announced his candidacy for chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, saying the committee “should reflect the changing landscape of agriculture in the United States.” As the majority party, House Democrats will select the chairman in the weeks ahead.
Georgia Rep. David Scott announced his candidacy shortly before Costa entered the race. Scott, from a mostly suburban district outside of Atlanta, would be the first Black chairman of the committee if he is chosen. Ohio Rep. Marcia Fudge also has been mentioned as a possible candidate.
“As a third-generation farmer, I have the firsthand experience, expertise and passion to connect with rural Americans and lead this committee through the difficult challenges ahead,” said Costa in a statement. “Not only must this Committee address an unstable agricultural economy and a broken international trade system, but we must also feed millions of vulnerable Americans in the throes of a worldwide pandemic.”
Costa and Scott are members of the Blue Dog Coalition of fiscally conservative Democrats, as is Agriculture chairman Collin Peterson, who was defeated for re-election. Costa’s district accounts for a quarter of agricultural production in California. Roughly 25 percent of his constituents are SNAP recipients.