A bunch of swing district Home Democrats signaled their help for Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) to succeed Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) as the highest Democrat on the Home Pure Assets Committee days after Grijalva endorsed Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) for the position.
“The Natural Resources Committee touches all of our districts and it will be a key battleground as we brace for an onslaught of attacks on the fundamental rights of our communities and our precious environment,” the members wrote. “House Democrats will be in great hands with Jared leading this important committee as Ranking Member. We endorse him enthusiastically and urge you to support him in the upcoming caucus election.”
Twenty-three members signed the letter, a number of of whom both misplaced their seats or resigned them to hunt Senate seats within the 2024 election, together with Reps. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Colin Allred (D-Texas), in addition to Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), who’s leaving the Home to run for governor of Virginia.
A number of present members of the Pure Assets panel signed onto the letter, together with Peltola and Reps. Val Hoyle (Ore.) and Susie Lee (Nev.).
Huffman introduced in November that he would search the management spot on the panel, which Grijalva has held for 10 years. Grijalva initially pushed to retain the place for his remaining time period, establishing a conflict with Huffman, however reversed course on Dec. 2, calling it “the right moment to pass the torch.”
Grijalva has been absent from Congress a lot of the previous yr for most cancers remedy. He received a twelfth time period final month.
On Thursday, Grijalva introduced his backing of Stansbury, who was elected in 2021 to succeed Inside Secretary Deb Haaland. Stansbury presently serves as rating member on the panel’s oversight subcommittee.
Huffman expressed confidence that he has the votes to win the place in a press release to The Hill final week, saying “My whip count is already over 150 and climbing, and that’s going to be my singular focus in the days ahead.”
Home Democrats are poised to shuffle management on a number of committees for the brand new Congress as lawmakers put together to conduct oversight of the incoming Trump administration.
Present Judiciary rating member Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) dropped out of the race for the highest spot on that panel, clearing the way in which for Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.).
Raskin has served as the highest Democrat on the Oversight panel, opening up a battle for that spot.
On the Agriculture Committee, Reps. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) and Jim Costa (D-Calif.) have introduced challenges to present rating member Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.).
