U.S. Rep. Crawford to vie to chair Agriculture Committee

U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, will seek to become the Agriculture Committee Chairman when the 117th Congress convenes in 2021, his office has announced. Crawford, who is serving his fifth term in Arkansas’ First Congressional District would have to win re-election in 2020 to have a chance to serve as chairman, and the Republicans would have to win back the House.

Crawford has served on the Agriculture Committee since 2010. During a recent meeting with Arkansas Farm Bureau members, Crawford said his primary competition to be the top ranking Republican on the committee will be from U.S. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Georgia, and U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Penn., according to the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.

Party rules only allow members to serve six years in committee leadership roles, meaning U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway of Texas will have exhausted his leadership status by the end of the current congressional term.

Crawford became the first Republican since Reconstruction to take back the largely agricultural First District. He has easily won re-election each time since.