Six of the 19 toss-up races for U.S. House seats in the Nov. 5 general elections involve members of the Agriculture Committee, three Republican and three Democratic incumbents. The races in districts from California to New York State could have a large impact on control of the House, now held by the GOP, 220-212.
All six won by narrow margins in 2022, and four of them are in rematch races. Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican running for his fifth term in an Omaha-area district, again faces state Sen. Tony Vargas. California Rep. John Duarte, a farmer, again faces Democrat Adam Gray, a college professor and state legislator, in a Central Valley district. In southern New York State, Democrat Josh Riley is running for the second time against Rep. Marc Molinaro, the first Republican elected from the district since 2016. And in southwestern Washington State, Rep. Marie Glusenkamp Perez faces Republican Joe Kent, a former Trump foreign policy adviser, for the second time.
In the other toss-up races, Colorado Rep. Yadira Caraveo, a physician, elected with 48 percent of the vote in 2022, faces six challengers, including Republican Gabe Evans, a state representative, and North Carolina Rep. Don Davis is challenged by Republican Laurie Buckhout, a former Army colonel, and Tom Bailey, a Libertarian.