Thompson Elected Top Republican on Ag Committee

A Pennsylvania Republican will lead his GOP colleagues in the House Agriculture Committee for the 117th Congress.

On Wednesday, Rep. G.T. Thompson (R-Centre) was elected by the Republican Steering Committee to serve as the GOP leader of the House Agriculture Committee for the upcoming Congress.

"As a lifelong resident of a small town in rural Central Pennsylvania and the descendant of a long line of dairy farmers, I am incredibly humbled to have been elected by my Republican colleagues to be their leader on the House Agriculture Committee in the 117th Congress," Thompson said in a release. "The challenges ahead of us are considerable, but we will continue to put farm families first and ensure our country has the most safe and affordable food supply chain on the planet."

Thompson is taking over for Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX), who is retiring at the end of the current Congress. According to the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat, Thompson is currently serving as the ranking member of the Agriculture Committee's General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Committee.

Thompson was the lone Pennsylvanian serving on the House Agriculture Committee during the 116th Congress.

Thompson was first elected to Congress in 2008 to serve in the old 5th Congressional District after besting Democrat Mark McCracken by 15 points. He cruised to reelection in 2020 after defeating Democrat Robert Williams by 52 points in the GOP friendly 15th Congressional District.