Appropriators have a lot to prove over the next month — not only that their committees are still relevant, but also that new lawmakers should join after 2026.
Between competitive races, redistricting and retirements, this year will shake up the makeup of the spending panels. House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.) is acutely aware of that, saying Congress needs to pass appropriations bills by the end of January to show lawmakers that the committee is still a plum appointment.
“It’s a very important cycle for the Appropriations Committee, as a committee, on both sides of the aisle to remain relevant,” Cole said. “If we end up with a bunch of CRs, then why have an Appropriations Committee?”
The retirements. Senate appropriators Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) have all already announced their retirements.
McConnell’s departure will open up the top job on the Defense subcommittee and Shaheen’s retirement will let a new Democrat takeover on the Agriculture funding panel.
Down the dais in the House, Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) have all announced that they won’t seek another term in the House. Hinson will instead run for Senate.
More appropriators may be out the door, too. Reps. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), 86 and 85 respectively, could retire. Hoyer is currently the top Democrat on the Financial-Services and General Government subcommittee, while Clyburn has the top Democratic spot on the Transportation-HUD panel.
Races to watch. The biggest 2026 race to watch in terms of the appropriations committees is Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins’ (R-Maine) reelection bid. Democrats are hoping to flip the seat. If Democrats win, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) is next-in-line to lead the committee in terms of seniority.
Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) is also facing a competitive race to keep his Senate seat. Ossoff is currently the top Democrat on the Military-Construction-
Redistricting reverberations. In the House, Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.), the Defense cardinal, has a tough primary against Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif.) after California’s redistricting drew them into the same district.
Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.), the Legislative Branch cardinal, already had a tough race, but Democrats made his district slightly more blue in the state redraw.
Rep. Henry Cuellar’s (D-Texas) district became more red with Texas redistricting. Cuellar recently reclaimed his spot as the top Democrat on the Homeland Security subcommittee. President Donald Trump pardoned Cuellar, which allowed him to regain his appropriations post.
Rep. Marcy Kaptur (Ohio), the top Democrat on the Energy and Water subcommittee, is trying to pull off another win in a district dominated by Trump. Ohio’s new map made her seat even more red.
More appropriators may be on the chopping block, too, depending on how some states may draw their maps. It remains to be seen whether Florida Republicans will try to draw Democratic Reps. Lois Frankel and Debbie Wasserman Schultz out of their seats. Clyburn may also be a target if South Carolina ends up redrawing its map.
