Agriculture Committee Faces Major Turnover

At least nine House and five Senate Agriculture Committee members are leaving at the end of the 119th Congress.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Agriculture

Isometric editorial illustration of a row of plain wooden committee chairs, several pushed back and empty, in a bare tiered room. — At least nine House and five Senate Agriculture Committee members are leaving when the 119th Congress ends, reshaping leadership over federal farm policy. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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At least nine House Agriculture Committee members and five Senate Agriculture Committee members are departing when the 119th Congress ends. Representatives Shontel Brown of Ohio and Jim Costa of California are seeking the top Democratic position on the House committee.

Why it matters

Committee turnover can reshape the leadership and policy priorities that guide federal agriculture legislation affecting farmers and rural communities nationwide. The departures follow November elections, with several members retiring, losing a primary, or seeking other offices.

At least 14 combined members across the House and Senate Agriculture Committees are departing at the end of the 119th Congress, based on the minimum counts reported. The final membership of each committee and the identity of incoming members remain unresolved in the available information.

The players

Shontel Brown

Shontel Brown is a Democratic representative from Ohio who is seeking the top Democratic position on the House Agriculture Committee.

Jim Costa

Jim Costa is a Democratic representative from California who is seeking the top Democratic position on the House Agriculture Committee.

Joni Ernst

Joni Ernst is a Republican senator from Iowa who is retiring at the end of the 119th Congress.

Mitch McConnell

Mitch McConnell is a Republican senator from Kentucky who is retiring at the end of the 119th Congress.

Dick Durbin

Dick Durbin is a Democratic senator from Illinois who is retiring at the end of the 119th Congress.

The details

Among the departing members are Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, who is retiring, and Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, and Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota, who are also retiring. Angie Craig of Minnesota lost her Senate primary, while Rep. Randy Feenstra of Iowa and Rep. Dusty Johnson of South Dakota are seeking different offices.

• November 2026: November elections trigger the committee turnover.
• End of the 119th Congress: Nine House and five Senate agriculture members depart.

Market Landscape

Turnover at the end of the 119th Congress sets the stage for the next session's farm policy debates. The reshaped committee rosters will determine which lawmakers hold influence over agriculture legislation going forward.

Committee turnover can affect which lawmakers shape federal farm programs that influence food prices and farm income. Changes in committee leadership may alter the priorities that reach the next Farm Bill debate.

The takeaway

Leadership changes on agriculture committees can shift how federal farm policy is written, so tracking the incoming members is useful for anyone affected by those rules. Readers can follow committee announcements as the new Congress organizes its rosters.