WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. David Scott is not the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee’s recommendation to serve as the party’s top leader on the House Agriculture Committee when the new Congress begins working in January.
And he indicated to colleagues Monday night that he will withdraw his name from consideration ahead of Tuesday’s full caucus vote. According to a member of Congress and a second source with knowledge of private discussions, Scott began notifying members that he was out of the race after he finished in last place during Monday’s steering committee vote. The sources did not want speak publicly because Scott had yet to make an announcement.
The 79-year-old Atlanta Democrat delivered a five-minute speech and answered questions from steering committee members for an additional 10 minutes before the vote. But he ultimately landed in third place with five votes, as first reported by Politico.
The steering committee voted to recommend Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota become the ranking member on the committee after she received the most votes, 34. Another challenger, Rep. Jim Costa of California, will be on the ballot, too, after he earned 22 votes.
Scott had faced concerns about his age and abilities, and after the Steering Committee met it appeared unlikely he would earn the majority vote needed from his Democratic colleagues on Tuesday to keep the job.
Scott missed two weeks’ of votes last month following unannounced treatment for a bad back. He was welcomed back by colleagues when he returned, but he said his position on the committee was “in God’s hands.”
Scott became the first Black lawmaker to lead the powerful Agriculture Committee after Democrats won the House majority in 2020. The committee oversees subsidies and other resources for farmers and food producers, but also the popular Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as food stamps.
Almost immediately after becoming the committee’s chair, some of Scott’s fellow Democrats began to complain he was not up to the task. However, then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other leaders backed him up.
House Democrats have a trio of new leaders now who represent a younger generation and have been less vocal about the contested races for Scott’s post and others led by senior members. Two others, Judiciary’s Jerry Nadler of New York and Natural Resources’ Raúl Grijalva of Arizona, relinquished their ranking member posts after younger challengers surfaced in recent weeks.
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