The senior Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee, Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, said she had a productive conversation with President Trump’s nominee for agriculture secretary, but did not endorse former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue for the job. So far, Agriculture Committee member Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota is the only Democrat in the Senate to commit to voting for Perdue.
“As the committee process continues, I look forward to learning more about Gov. Perdue and his goals for USDA, and having a confirmation hearing after the committee receives the required documents,” Stabenow said after the meeting. “I made it clear that agriculture must be a key priority for this administration. The next Agriculture Secretary should be a champion for our farmers and ranchers, while also balancing all of the Department’s important missions — from conducting groundbreaking scientific research and protecting our Great Lakes and public lands, to ensuring access to nutritious food and growing economic opportunities in small towns and rural communities.”
Perdue has attracted none of the controversy surrounding other Trump nominees for the cabinet. He was Trump’s final selection and could be the last to face a confirmation vote in the Senate, where partisan tensions are pronounced.
A Republican on the Agriculture Committee, Chuck Grassley of Iowa, said he and Perdue discussed the importance of family farms during a meeting. “After our conversation, I feel that he understands and appreciates the family farm and the contributions it makes to the economy,” said Grassley, a proponent of strict limits on farm subsidy payments, which would affect southern farmers more than Midwesterners. “We also briefly discussed trade and exports and how important they are to farmers and the agricultural economy.”
Meanwhile, 24 Republican governors declared “our full support” for Perdue in a letter to Agriculture Committee chairman Pat Roberts. “Gov. Perdue has a long and personal history in agriculture and his executive leadership over a large agricultural state provides the management and expertise to be the next secretary of agriculture. Clearly, Gov. Perdue would hit the ground running.”