Costa mounts bid for top Democrat on House Agriculture Committee, igniting leadership race

Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.) is signaling a bid to become the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, setting up a contest with Rep. Shontel Brown as Rep. Angie Craig leaves Congress after an unsuccessful Senate bid; the outcome could shape farm-policy moves and a potential farm bill. The live updates also cover other Capitol Hill moves—from vaccine questions at a surgeon general nomination hearing to a new measure sparked by James Comer’s Epstein probe, a push for bipartisan AI safeguards, and Democrats seeking to curb data-center tax breaks—as lawmakers navigate a busy, polarized session.