Sarasota-Bradenton’s US Rep. Buchanan could lead powerful House committee in 2022
Congressman Vern Buchanan could soon become the first Florida lawmaker to lead the influential House Ways and Means Committee in Washington, D.C.
Buchanan’s opportunity comes as a result of U.S. Rep. Devin Nunes’s planned resignation. Earlier this year, Buchanan announced that he was interested in running for the top spot on the committee, which is considered the House’s most prestigious and oversees key policies such as health care, tax reform and trade agreements.
U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, is the top Republican on the committee, but he has already announced plans to step down after the 2022 election. Behind Brady, Nunes, R-Calif., is the only Republican on the committee who ranks higher than Buchanan.
On Monday, Nunes announced he will leave Congress in 2022 to run former President Donald Trump’s new technology firm. The departure would set the stage for Buchanan to become the committee’s top Republican if he wins re-election in 2022.
If Republicans retake the House majority in the midterm elections, Buchanan, R-Longboat Key, would likely earn the chairman position.
“Best of luck to my friend and colleague, Devin Nunes. He’s a champion for freedom and conservative values and will be greatly missed,” Buchanan said in a statement provided to the Bradenton Herald. “As I indicated earlier this year, I will be running for the Ways and Means chairmanship, but my first priority is to help Republicans win back the U.S. House majority in 2022.”
Buchanan has served in the House since 2006. Congressional District 16 includes all of Manatee and parts of Sarasota and Hillsborough counties. Two candidates have already launched campaigns to unseat Buchanan in 2022. Republican Martin Hyde and Democrat Jan Schneider hope to win his seat in November.
Before winning a seat in Congress, Buchanan owned and operated businesses for more than 30 years. He also served as the chairman of the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and the Florida Chamber of Commerce. That background would make Buchanan the ideal chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, said Max Goodman, the congressman’s political consultant.
“Vern is the undisputed frontrunner to take the gavel of the most influential committee in Congress,” Goodman said. “The respect his colleagues have for his real-world business acumen and his unwavering command of the issues make him the clear and obvious choice.”
Buchanan also found support from Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., who agreed that the congressman would be the best person for the job.
“I cannot think of a member of Congress more capable of leading the House Ways and Means Committee than my friend Vern Buchanan,” Scott posted in a tweet Wednesday evening.
This story was originally published December 10, 2021 at 6:00 AM.
