Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley suggested two Democrats for President-elect Joe Biden to consider for secretary of agriculture.
“I realize this might hurt their chances but if Biden becomes pres he should select an Iowan or Heidi Heitkamp or Collin Peterson to be Ag Secretary. They’d be able to get things done for IA/Midwest farmers even w Democratic House & Republican Senate,” Grassley tweeted Wednesday.
Former North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp lost her seat in 2018 after one term to Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer, while Minnesota Rep. Collin Peterson, a 30-year incumbent, was defeated this cycle by Republican Michelle Fischbach.
Peterson is the outgoing chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, and Heitkamp was a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
The suggestion by Grassley, president pro tempore of the Senate entering his 40th year representing Iowa statewide, comes as Republicans consider how strongly to oppose or support Cabinet nominations by Biden. Two Senate runoff races in Georgia, on Jan. 5, will determine who is in the majority in the next Congress. Democrats would have to nab both seats to hold a bare majority.
However, other Democrats are lobbying for other fellow party members. South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn, the House majority whip, wants Biden to appoint Ohio Rep. Marcia Fudge, a member of the House Agriculture Committee and chairwoman of the nutrition and oversight subcommittee panel.
Tom Vilsack, the former Democratic governor of Iowa and agriculture secretary for President Barack Obama, is also reportedly a candidate for the job.
