Where is House Agriculture Committee ranking member David Scott (D-Ga.)?
In the middle of a contested election for the top Democratic slot on the Ag Committee, Scott has been missing House votes and missing candidate forums, as his rivals actively circle around him to win the support of Democratic colleagues.
The 79-year-old will face a major test today. The Congressional Black Caucus — a 60-vote bloc of which he’s long been a member — is holding its candidate forum for contested committee spots. This, theoretically, includes Scott and his two challengers for the Agriculture Committee’s top slot: Reps. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) and Jim Costa (D-Calif.).
So far, Scott has made no commitment to attend, even as he struggles with CBC support.
Scott should have the CBC locked down. He’s the incumbent ranking member, he’s a veteran CBC lawmaker and he has seniority. The CBC zealously defends the seniority system that has ruled the House Democratic Caucus for years.
But Scott’s health concerns have kept the group quiet. And some Black lawmakers are undecided on whether they want to back the Georgia Democrat for another term.
CBC Chair Steven Horsford (D-Nev.) referred to the forum as the “first step” for the caucus to make a decision on who to support but brushed off Scott’s looming absence.
“I don’t keep track of attendance,” Horsford told us.
Scott missed several weeks of votes last month to get treatment for back issues. Scott also missed one vote series on Tuesday before he returned in the evening, being pushed in a wheelchair.
Scott made calls to CBC members before the Thanksgiving break to ask for their support, but some lawmakers withheld their endorsements. Several others are speculating that Scott could drop out of the race at any moment.
“I haven’t decided yet,” one CBC member who received a call from Scott told us. “He’s really struggling.”
Scott is, of course, the final ranking member who hasn’t yet succumbed to a challenge from more junior colleagues. Last week, Reps. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) both stepped aside from running to lead their respective panels and endorsed a more junior member.
And as recently as Friday, Scott told reporters he’s “most definitely” staying in his race to lead his committee another term.
Scott skipped three candidate forums in the past two weeks, while Craig and Costa have made several presentations to the Hispanic Caucus, the Progressive Caucus and the New Democrat Coalition.
The CHC endorsed Costa. The New Democrat Coalition isn’t expected to endorse due to all three candidates being members of the group. It’s unclear yet whether the Progressive Caucus will make an endorsement.
In addition to the CBC forum, the Democratic Women’s Caucus will also hold a candidate forum today.
Scott’s office also didn’t respond to a request for comment on his attendance and whether he plans to stay in the race.
Democrats on the Agriculture Committee will also meet around 11 a.m. today for an update on the farm bill extension talks.
Huffman dues news: Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), who is seeking the ranking member-post on the House Natural Resources Committee, will fully pay his 2025-26 DCCC dues of $190,000 today, making him the first Democrat to do so. It’s the second time Huffman has hit that milestone.
“I’ve made it a point over the years to pay my dues – both figuratively and literally. I’ve met or exceeded DCCC contributions, traveled coast to coast to campaign for colleagues, and donated to frontline members,” Huffman said in a statement.
Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) is running for the Natural Resources post. She has Grijalva’s backing, although Huffman — who is next in line — is pressing hard.
