Tuesday’s election results saw Democrats regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives, picking up at least 27 seats, with their margin expected to grow in the days ahead as close races are called. Senate Republicans were able to pad their current majority, despite losing a close race in Nevada, by picking up seats in Indiana, Missouri and North Dakota. Additionally, Republicans lead in Florida and Arizona, but both races are too close to call.

Contributions from NAAA’s AgAv PAC were successfully contributed over the past two years based on the election results as 12 out of 13 AgAv PAC supported candidates won various House and Senate races (a 92.3% success rate). This includes members who are expected to be chairmen or ranking members on various committees and subcommittees.

AgAv PAC supported U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN) is expected to the new chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. Peterson, currently the ranking members of the committee, previously held the post of chairman from 2007 to 2011. He has been supportive of the ag community on critical issues such as regulatory reform, including a fix for the duplicative National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit by eliminating its requirements for pesticides registered and already tested for water safety under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).

If the House and Senate don’t pass a Farm Bill by the time a new Congress is sworn in on January 3, 2019, a new bill will have to be introduced in both chambers. U.S. Rep. Peterson has repeatedly said he doesn’t want to start the Farm Bill process from scratch and believes a compromise can still be reached. He, along with the rest of the Democrat caucus, voted against the current version of the House Farm Bill due to concerns of changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), more commonly referred to as food stamps. Outgoing Chairman and AgAv PAC-supported U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX) will have to make some quick decisions regarding SNAP in the next few weeks working with their Senate Farm bill conference committee counterparts before the Democrat majority is sworn in. 

On the transportation side of things, Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) is in the running to be ranking member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I)  Committee, and U.S. Rep. Rick Larson (D-WA) is expected to be the chairman of the T&I Aviation Subcommittee. Both members were supported by the AgAv PAC this election cycle.

Republicans built on their Senate majority by capturing Democrat held seats in Indiana, North Dakota and Missouri. Republicans currently lead in Florida and Arizona but both races are too close to call. Source: The Washington Post.

Additionally, Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Bill Nelson (D-FL) is requesting a recount in his race against Florida Gov. Rick Scott.  It is widely expected Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) with take up the gavel as Commerce Committee Chairman, putting NAAA in a strong position due to the large number of ag aviators in his state.