A coalition of more than 20 frontline House Democrats is coming out in support of California Rep. Jared Huffman over New Mexico Rep. Melanie Stansbury in the race to take over as the Natural Resources Committee’s ranking member, according to a letter of support obtained by NOTUS.
“By doing strong committee work and helping members in difficult seats with committee actions and with their campaigns, Ranking Members/Chairs play an important role in the overall success of our Democratic Caucus,” the letter said. “That is why we are writing to urge your support of Jared Huffman to serve as Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee.”
The members, each of whom faced particularly tight races in November, lauded Huffman’s work on climate, tribal and environmental issues in the letter, emphasizing his readiness to stand up to President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda on Day One.
Lawmakers also cited their positive experiences working with Huffman both in Congress and on the committee, casting him as a pragmatic legislator able to support members in tough battleground districts while working to enact Democratic priorities.
“We have worked closely with Jared over the years, including many of us as members of the Natural Resources Committee,” the letter said. “We have seen the qualities that make him uniquely equipped to lead this committee.”
Huffman formally launched his bid to challenge current Natural Resources Ranking Member Rep. Raúl Grijalva late last month. And Grijalva announced recently that he wouldn’t seek the committee’s top job, after a number of Grijalva’s colleagues on the committee told NOTUS they had lost faith in his ability to lead after nearly a year of absences as Grijalva battles cancer.
After Huffman challenged Grijalva and Grijalva dropped out of the race, he endorsed Stansbury last week to be his successor.
But Grijalva’s backing doesn’t seem to be having much of an impact on boosting Stansbury’s prospects. A source close to Huffman’s whip operation told NOTUS that the congressman has already secured commitments from 160 members. Among the new batch of frontline members backing Huffman is one of Grijalva’s fellow Arizona lawmakers, Rep. Greg Stanton.
According to people close to the race, Huffman has secured support from nearly all Southwest Democrats, outside of the New Mexico delegation and Texas Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, whose district neighbors Stansbury’s.
When asked for comment, Stansbury’s spokesperson Caroline Sweeney said Grijalva had “passed the baton” to Stansbury.
“Rep. Stansbury is humbled and grateful for the amazing support and feedback she’s received so far, especially given the timing of the race,” Sweeney said.
She added that Stansbury believes it’s critical to take time to listen — “because the lives and well-being of our communities and planet will depend on our continued fight together to protect our nation’s lands, waters and sacred sites.”
Sweeney added that her boss was “ready for the fight.”
Huffman, meanwhile, told NOTUS it’s “good to have a contest.”
“It’s making me work harder and that’s going to make me a better ranking member,” he said.
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Mark Alfred is a NOTUS reporter and an Allbritton Journalism Institute fellow.