Grijalva backs Stansbury over former challenger Huffman to lead Natural Resources Democrats

Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, will back Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) to succeed him over Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), who announced a challenge to Grijalva’s leadership before the Arizona Democrat announced he would not seek to retain the position.

“Rep. Stansbury has made her mark as a strategic and tenacious advocate for advancing environmental justice, strengthening tribal sovereignty, and securing water for communities in the drought-stricken West,” Grijalva said in a statement Thursday. “Her tenure as Ranking Member on the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee proves her leadership in standing up to polluting industries and holding them to account, even when Democrats don't hold the gavel.”

Grijalva, who is retiring after the term he won in November, announced last week he would step back from his role as the panel’s top Democrat last week after 10 years. He initially told The Hill he intended to seek to retain the leadership position in the next Congress, but he announced Monday it was “the right moment to pass the torch.”

The 12-term Democrat announced an unspecified cancer diagnosis in April and was absent from the Capitol for much of the session as he underwent treatment.

Stansbury was elected in 2021, succeeding Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. Huffman previously called for committee Democrats to name Grijalva the committee’s “Ranking Member Emeritus,” vowing to “look to him as a key partner in guiding the Committee through the challenges and opportunities of the next two years.”

The potential for a succession fight stands in stark contrast to the House Judiciary Committee, where Ranking Member Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) announced Wednesday he will cede the ranking member position to Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) rather than face a challenge for the position.

In a statement to The Hill, Huffman expressed confidence he had the votes to secure the leadership slot.

“I’m going to stay focused on making my case to my colleagues in the 119th Congress and I am encouraged and humbled by the incredible response we’ve gotten so far," Huffman said. "My whip count is already over 150 and climbing, and that’s going to be my singular focus in the days ahead.”

Updated at 5:04 p.m. EST