House Agriculture Committee member Rodney Davis of Illinois, a critic of new school lunch rules, looks like a surer bet for a second term from central Illinois. The Democratic congressional committee has cut funding for his challenger, former county judge Ann Callis, and two other Democrats hoping to defeat Agriculture Committee members, say stories in National Journal, Politico and The Hill. Davis narrowly won election in 2012, making him a natural target this year.
Davis was an early advocate of a one-year waiver for some schools from having to meet requirements to serve meals with more fruit, vegetables and grains while curtailing fat, salt and sugar. He says the new meals are costly for schools and not popular with students.
The cutbacks affect Iraq war veteran Jim Mowrer, running against conservative Rep. Steve King of Iowa, who is mentioned for Agriculture chairman in 2015, and farmer Michael Eggman, who challenges Rep. Jeff Denham in California. Funding was boosted for three Democrats on the committee, Bill Enyart of Illinois, Rick Nolan of Minnesota and Sean Maloney of New York state.
Amanda Renteria, the first Latina to be a Senate chief of staff, will receive less advertising support, said the reports. She is running against Republican David Valadao, a member of the House Appropriations subcommittee on agriculture.
Callis and Renteria were highly regarded recruits for their districts. But Davis and Valadao are rated as likely winners by Sabato’s Crystal Ball, a political tipsheet. So are King and Denham.
Democrats Nolan and Enyart are in toss-up races, according to the Crystal Ball. Maloney’s race is rated as “leans Democratic,” a category that includes Collin Peterson, the Democratic leader on the Agriculture Committee.
Roll Call says a poll shows no clear leader in the Louisiana district of Rep. Vance McAllister, Republican and an Agriculture Committee member. It said a December run-off was likely with Republicans strongly favored to win. In the poll, Democrat Jamie Mayo led with 19 percent, followed by McAllister with 17 percent. Four other Republicans are in the race.