Washington Notebook: Election shakes up T&I Committee

The body’s ranking member will not return to the House in 2015.    With a number of Democrats leaving Congress in 2015, the primary election results will have an immediate impact on the makeup of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
   Longtime West Virginia congressman Nick Rahall has lost his re-election bid, and when he leaves the chamber next year, the T&I Committee will lose its ranking member. According to reports, Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., will ascend to the ranking member position.
   Democrat Tim Bishop of New York lost his House seat to a Republican challenger. Republican Steve Southerland of Florida also lost his race to Democrat Gwen Graham by less than a percentage point. In an resolved-yet-unresolved race, Incumbent New York Democrat Sean Patrick Maloney has a 2.5-percent edge over Republican Nan Hayworth, with Hayworth refusing to concede.
   Three Republican members also are retiring. Wisconsin Republican Tom Petri, chairman of the subcommittee on highways and transit, is leaving, and his Congressional seat was won by Republican Glen Grothman. Republican Howard Coble is also stepping away, and his seat is being filled by Republican Mark Walker. California Republican Gary Miller will not be in Congress next year, and his vacant seat will be filled by Democrat Pete Aguilar.
   Democrat Mike Michaud of Maine left his seat to run an unsuccessful bid for governor, and his House seat is being taken by Republican Bruce Poliquin.
   With wins last night, two Republicans are moving to the Senate. Last night, Republican Shelley Moore Capito’s spot in the House was taken over by Republican Alex Mooney. Republican member Steve Daines also won his quest for a Senate seat, and he is being replaced by Republican Ryan Zinke.
   Many members of the 60-person committee were re-elected by wide margins; a handful of congressmen were running unopposed.