Wicker, Cantwell, Pallone May Remain Commerce Committees' Leaders
There may be some turnover in leadership of the House and Senate Commerce committees and subpanels important to tech and telecom policymaking next Congress, and some leaders are almost certain to remain no matter who wins Tuesday’s elections, lawmakers and lobbyists told us. House Commerce’s GOP leader will be different due to the retirement of ranking member Greg Walden of Oregon (see 1911260048).
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The campaign for Senate control appeared to be going down to the wire Monday, with an aggregate of recent polls indicating Democrats and Republicans leading in enough races to result in both parties holding 50 seats. RealClearPolitics found polls were close enough in nine races to rate them as toss-ups. Democrats appeared favored to retain control of the House, with polling indicating they were secure to win at least 209 seats and Republicans likely to retain at least 182. RCP considers 44 seats to be toss-ups -- 24 won by Democrats and 19 by Republicans in the 2018 election. Election prognosticators rated Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden as being favored to win over incumbent President Donald Trump (see 2011020001).
Senate Commerce Chairman Roger Wicker of Mississippi and Senate Communications Subcommittee Chairman John Thune of South Dakota separately confirmed to us they want to remain in the top GOP slots next Congress, regardless of which party has the majority. “There are [tech and telecom] issues that we’re interested in and have a lot of investment in from my days as” Commerce chairman that will remain at the forefront of Senate Communications’ agenda in the next Congress, Thune said. “That’s something that we still want to be really active in.” Thune turned over the Commerce gavel to Wicker at the beginning of this Congress, when he became Senate majority whip (see 1901110037).
Senate Commerce ranking member Maria Cantwell of Washington and Communications ranking member Brian Schatz of Hawaii are likewise expected to remain the lead Democrats next Congress. Schatz is in line to take over as lead Democrat on the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, but that’s unlikely to necessitate relinquishing his Communications leadership role, lobbyists said. The senators didn’t comment Monday. Cantwell took over as Senate Commerce ranking member at the beginning of this Congress after previous ranker Bill Nelson, D-Fla., lost reelection (see 1812120047).
Democratic leaders on the House Commerce Committee are expected to remain in those posts, including Chairman Frank Pallone of New Jersey, Communications Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle of Pennsylvania and Consumer Protection Subcommittee Chairwoman Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, lobbyists said. All three are all but certain to win reelection. A Doyle aide confirmed he intends to remain at Communications. The other lawmakers' offices didn't comment.
There’s more uncertainty about GOP leaders on the House Commerce and subpanel levels, lobbyists said. Four sitting subcommittee ranking members have been vying since last fall to replace Walden as committee ranker: Health Subcommittee's Michael Burgess of Texas, Commerce Oversight Subcommittee's Brett Guthrie of Kentucky, Communications Subcommittee's Bob Latta of Ohio and Consumer Protection Subcommittee's Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington. A promotion for either Latta or McMorris Rodgers would lead to a leadership vacancy in either subcommittee.
Burgess and McMorris Rodgers appear to be the leading contenders to succeed Walden, said lobbyists who follow House GOP thinking. Burgess has the most seniority of the four contenders, but McMorris Rodgers may hold an edge because she was previously in House GOP leadership and would allow the caucus to promote a woman to be Republican leader on another committee, lobbyists said. Women were ranking members on two House panels in this Congress: the Appropriations Committee's Kay Granger of Texas and Education Committee's Virginia Foxx of North Carolina.
Latta is known to be interested in taking over as Consumer Protection ranking member if McMorris Rodgers takes the top Commerce slot, lobbyists said. Guthrie is believed to be a contender to replace Latta at Communications in that scenario, lobbyists said. A Latta spokesperson emphasized his primary interest is in seeking to succeed Walden. The other lawmakers' offices didn't comment.