Ousted Kansas Rep. Huelskamp first big name to show interest in being agriculture secretary

Rep. Tim Huelskamp

Kansas Rep. Tim Huelskamp, who lost the Republican primary this year when farm groups rallied around his challenger, has expressed interest in being agriculture secretary in the Donald Trump administration, Philip Brasher reports for Agri-Pulse. Huelskamp, one of the most conservative House GOP members, was outed as a possible candidate at a Capitol Hill forum Wednesday.

A reporter from Breitbart News, whose executive chairman, Stephen Bannon was CEO of the Trump's campaign and recently named to be his chief strategist in the White House, asked Huelskamp "to share with us any discussions you're had about becoming agriculture secretary," Brasher reports.

Huelskamp said he couldn't comment on the question, but later told Agri-Pulse, “People who are in the room have been talking to me. If you're looking to be an outsider I would be quite a pick to fit that. We need to drain the swamp. I certainly am not part of that.”

House Agriculture Chairman Mike Conaway, R-Texas, said Trump has given vice president-elect Mike Pence "the lead role in agriculture policy and would have a say on who is selected as secretary," Brasher writes. Conway told Brasher, “I have not heard who's handling Ag. My guess is that (selecting an agriculture secretary) is not the first priority.” (Read more)