House Republicans and Democrats Bypass Seniority in Committee Leadership Shuffle
House Republicans and Democrats have bypassed senior officials in their selection of various committee chairs.
On December 9, Republicans chose Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.) to head the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
The GOP Steering Committee, responsible for recommending committee chairs, opted for the four-term congressman over seasoned Reps. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), Ann Wagner (R-Mo.), and Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), with Wilson being the most senior candidate among them.
Mast will take over from Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), who is limited by term rules from continuing as chairman.
Furthermore, the Steering Committee endorsed Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) for the House Energy and Commerce Committee, favoring him over Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio), despite Latta’s seniority.
These selections will require confirmation from the entire GOP conference, although this is largely procedural.
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No women were appointed as committee chairs, as the GOP currently has two female chairs: Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) of the House Education and Workforce Committee and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Foxx is term-limited as chair while McMorris Rodgers is set to retire from Congress.
On the Democratic side, there have been notable changes within a few significant committees.
Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) is in the running to take over as the leading Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, succeeding Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.), who has faced health challenges. Craig has served in Congress since January 2019.
Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) aims to become the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, taking over from Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), who is stepping down due to a cancer diagnosis that has required him to take a lengthy leave of absence. Huffman has been in Congress since January 2013.
Despite the changes and competition on these committees, the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee has recommended maintaining the current leadership for the House Ways and Means, Rules, Financial Services, Energy and Commerce, and Appropriations Committees.
The current leaders are Reps. Richard Neal (D-Mass.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), respectively. No challengers were identified for these roles.
The selections made by the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee must be confirmed by the House Democrat conference. Like their Republican counterparts, this is primarily a formality.
