When the 112th Congress convenes in January, the House and Senate Agriculture Committees' membership will reflect the historic Republican House majority and the narrow Democrats' Senate edge after Tuesday's election. The results will have powerful implications for farm, budget, trade, tax, and environmental legislation, and for regulatory activism.
Although some House and Senate races still are undecided, the known election results will usher in new House and Senate Agriculture Committee chairmen.
Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla., is expected to lead the Agriculture Committee's new Republican majority. Sens. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Kent Conrad, D-S.D., are two senior Agriculture Committee members whose names are mentioned to succeed current Chairman Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., who was defeated by Rep. John Boozman, R-Ark.
As a result of the elections, at least 15 of 28 House Agriculture Committee Democrats have lost their seats. All of the 18 committee Republicans won their elections, including Rep. Jerry Moran (R-KS), who was elected to the Senate.