Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios
The next Congress will be decided in next month's election, but the committee leadership will determine the priorities on the Hill.
Here are the key committee leadership posts to watch in the Senate for tech:
Senate Commerce Committee
If Republicans take the Senate:
- Current Ranking Member Ted Cruz will surely angle to run the committee, but he may have some stiff competition in Sen. John Thune, a former Commerce chair who's eyeing the top spot again (if he doesn't win the race to be Senate Majority Leader).
- Cruz may be more likely to focus on government agency power and alleged tech censorship than Thune, but he's also been interested in AI and children's online safety.
- Thune is eligible to be Commerce chair for two more years, and may have an easier time getting bills through with Sen. Maria Cantwell given his successful track record as chair the first time around and general leadership experience.
If Democrats hold the Senate:
- Sen. Maria Cantwell is unlikely to relinquish her position atop Commerce.
- We'd expect a continued focused on trying to get the American Privacy Rights Act done, but if all other dynamics stay the same across the Hill, it will continue to be a challenge. Cantwell is sure to keep focusing on spectrum, AI and social media safety, and increased access to broadband.
Senate Judiciary Committee
If Republicans take the Senate:
- Sen. Chuck Grassley, a former chair, will take the reigns again, per spokesperson Clare Slattery.
- Grassley has come to this agreement with current Ranking Member Sen. Lindsey Graham, who expects to become Budget chair if Republicans win.
- Grassley's always prided himself on the work of the Judiciary Committee being bipartisan and has been skeptical of Big Tech. He's unlikely to go along with any major antitrust action, but he may be more open to light AI regulation.
If Democrats hold the Senate:
- Sen. Dick Durbin wants to keep running the committee, spokesperson Emily Hampsten told Axios.
- Durbin has been focusing on immigration, reproductive rights, voting and democracy. He's also held a handful of hearings on AI and antitrust.
Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee
If Republicans take the Senate:
- Sen. Rand Paul is ranking member of the committee and could be the next chair.
- Paul frequently speaks out against what he describes as wasteful government spending, including by the National Science Foundation, and has voted against the Kids Online Safety Act and legislation to force a sale of TikTok.
If Democrats hold the Senate:
- Sen. Gary Peters will likely seek the chairmanship again, and continue focusing on AI, cybersecurity, defense oversight and consumer issues.
- Peters' PREPARED for AI Act to guide the federal government's responsible procurement of AI cleared the committee in July.
