Rep. Raúl Grijalva in 2020. Photo: Bonnie Cash/The Hill/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Rep. Raúl Grijalva said Monday that he'll drop his bid to return as ranking member on the Natural Resources Committee.
Why it matters: The announcement opens the door for Rep. Jared Huffman, who has long been seen as next in line for Democrats on the committee.
- Like Grijalva, Huffman is a staunch progressive. He'll fight the Trump agenda and likely oppose bipartisan efforts to overhaul NEPA or other environmental laws.
Driving the news: Grijalva, 76, said in a statement that "it is the right moment to pass the torch as top Democrat on the House Natural Resource Committee for the 119th Congress."
- The Arizonan has led Democrats on the panel for a decade but has been away from the Hill much of this year undergoing treatment for lung cancer.
- He returned to votes shortly before Thanksgiving — just in time for Huffman to announce that he would challenge him for the job.
Flashback: Grijalva claimed the top spot on Natural Resources in 2015, rising to the chair when Democrats took over the House in 2019.
- He's been influential in bringing environmental justice issues into the Biden agenda.
What's next: Grijalva had previously announced that the next Congress would be his last. He said he plans to "focus on improving my health, strengthening my mobility, and serving my district.
- "I look forward to working closely with Rep. Grijalva in this time of transition," Huffman said in a statement today.
