Congressional committee leadership is likely to change following the upcoming midterm elections in November. All House committee leaders and many Senate committee leaders are up for reelection this year, while others have already been defeated in primary elections or plan to retire.
If Democrats take control of either the House or Senate, they will also take over the chair positions of that chamber’s committees. These positions are typically, though not always, filled by the committee’s previous ranking member. Similarly, chairs who lose their positions when their party loses the majority often remain on the committee as their party’s ranking member.
If Republicans retain control of either chamber, many of the chairs in that chamber will likely remain in their current positions, although some face term limits and will have to apply for exceptions.
Committee assignments, including the roles of chair and ranking member, are determined through each party’s internal processes.
Potential Relevant Committee Leadership Changes
House Education and Workforce Committee
Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) is currently the chair of the House Education and Workforce Committee. If the Republicans keep the house, Walberg likely would continue to chair the committee. Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) is the current ranking member of the committee and is vying to become chair if the Democrats flip the House. At this time, Scott is being challenged by Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT) for his position as the highest ranking Democrat on the committee. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) also recently stated she wasn’t “ruling anything out” when it came to putting herself in the running for the chair position as well, setting up an interesting situation after the election.
Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), current chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, lost his primary, so regardless of election results, leadership of this committee will change. Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY), Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) are all seen as leading contenders for the top Republican position at this time. Sen. Paul has the seniority to take the position, but he is the current chair of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. He has not indicated publicly yet whether he would leave his current committee leadership position to lead the HELP Committee. Sen. Marshall has publicly expressed interest in leading the committee.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) is currently the ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. If Democrats take the majority in the Senate, he would likely become chair.
House Agriculture Committee
Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) is the current chair of the House Agriculture Committee. He has served as the Republican leader of the Committee since 2021, and has reached the six-year limit on consecutive leadership positions in House Republican Committee rules. Thompson can seek waiver from the House Republican Steering Committee to remain in this role next Congress and has indicated that he will do that. If Thompson is not granted a waiver, Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.) could be a potential successor. Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) is the current ranking member of the committee. However, Craig sought the Democratic nomination for the open Minnesota Senate seat, vacatubg her seat in the House. Rep. Shontel Brown (D-OH) is running for the top Democrat position on the committee and is favored to replace Craig.
House Committee on Small Business
Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX) is the current chair of the House Committee on Small Business. Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) is the ranking member of the committee but is retiring this year. Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS) has announced that she is considering running to replace Velazquez as the top Democrat on the committee.
Appropriations Committees
In the Senate, Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) is up for reelection in a closely watched race. If she is not reelected, Sen. Murkowski (R-ME) is next in line in Committee seniority. The outcome of the Maine Senate race could impact the leadership of both the Appropriations and HELP committees. Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) is not up for reelection in 2026 and is expected to maintain her leadership role in the next Congress.
In the House, Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-OK) won his primary in June and will face Mitchell Jacob (D) in the general election in November. Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) also won her primary in August and will face Christopher Lancia (R) in November. Both members are expected to maintain their leadership positions if reelected.
