As votes continue to be counted, a number of members of the House Agriculture Committee are still locked in close races that have not yet been called. The electoral fates of Republican Representatives Don Bacon (R-Neb.), John Duarte (R-Calif.) and Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.) are still up in the air, with Bacon and Duarte holding three-point leads and Chavez-DeRemer trailing Democrat Janelle Bynum by two points. Democratic challenger Josh Riley defeated incumbent Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.) by a single percentage point.

Several Democratic committee members also are still awaiting final results. Representatives Jim Costa (D-Calif.), Yadira Caraveo (D-Colo.), Marie Glusenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) and Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.) are in some of the tightest battles of the cycle. Caraveo and Costa lead their Republican challengers by approximately one percentage point, while Glusenkamp Perez has a three-percent margin and Salinas leads by 6%. 

The Agriculture Committee saw an unusually high number of competitive races this year, with at least five additional members winning by only single-digit margins. With increasing electoral polarization and politically gerrymandered districts, only about 10% of House seats will be decided by single digits this election. However, almost 25% of Agriculture Committee members are likely to see such narrow results. 

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Voters reject bans on slaughterhouses, fur and CAFOs

Several anti-agriculture ballot measures were defeated soundly across the country in Tuesday’s election. Animal rights activists had hoped to score victories in carefully selected local elections, then expand their efforts nationwide, but their efforts instead failed by wide margins.

In Denver, a proposed slaughterhouse ban only garnered about 35% of the vote. The measure directly targeted a single facility, a major lamb processing plant operated by Superior Farms and owned by its employees. The facility has operated on the north side of Denver for over 70 years and processes about 1,500 lambs per day. The city’s voters also rejected a ban on making or selling products with animal fur, which received only about 42% support. Radical animal activist group Pro-Animal Future backed both efforts.

Voters in Sonoma County, California, rejected a ban on concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, by a massive 85%-15% margin. Opponents argued that had it been successful, the measure would have shut down 21 facilities and cost workers $80 million in wages.

Both Denver and Sonoma County were selected as test cases based on their left-leaning electorates and perceived sympathetic view towards animal rights issues. Farming groups united against the measures, working hard to not allow such efforts to gain a foothold.

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Congress returning next week for lame duck session

Congress will reconvene on Monday for its lame-duck session, facing a packed agenda with key agricultural issues to address. A top priority is whether to pass a full five-year Farm Bill or opt for a one-year extension. Supporters of a comprehensive bill are still pushing forward, though they acknowledge it would be challenging to complete by Christmas. Many Republicans argue that a full reauthorization should wait until 2025 when they will have unified control in Washington, enabling them to negotiate more favorable terms.

Additionally, Congress will consider disaster relief for communities impacted by hurricanes, wildfires and floods. This relief package may also include support for farmers struggling amid weak market conditions. However, finalizing such a package will be difficult due to its anticipated high cost.

The government is currently operating under a temporary funding measure for fiscal year 2025, which began on Oct. 1. This measure expires on Dec. 20, at which point the government could face a shutdown if no further action is taken. In the coming days, lawmakers must decide whether to finalize full-year appropriations before that deadline or delay the decision into early 2025. This choice will likely be influenced by President-elect Donald Trump, who has not yet indicated if he prefers to address funding before his inauguration or to hold off until after he takes office.

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