Rep. Melanie Stansbury will run for the top Democratic job on the House Natural Resources Committee, where she will be a distinct underdog against Rep. Jared Huffman.
Stansbury made her candidacy official Monday after a week testing the waters. She carries the support of current ranking member Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), who exited the race amid health issues and Huffman’s challenge.
Whoever wins the top job will be at the forefront of Democratic resistance to the incoming Trump administration’s plans to slash clean energy subsidies, ramp up fossil fuel drilling and curb protections for public lands and endangered species.
If successful, Stansbury would be the first woman to lead a party atop the committee. Her election would also represent a stunning rise for the New Mexico lawmaker. She was first elected in 2021 to replace Deb Haaland, who was named Interior secretary. Huffman has served on the committee since 2012.
