At age 81, U.S. Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas) announced last November she would not seek reelection later this year after a 27-year run in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Granger also chairs the powerful House Appropriations Committee, and her departure was to set off a race for that committee's gavel within the Republican caucus.
However, Granger announced she was giving up her chairmanship early on Friday as Congress was considering a $1.2 trillion funding bill to avert a government shutdown.
According to a Politico report, Granger had asked her caucus to pick her successor so she could step down from her committee post early.
Among the two candidates named in the report to replace her is Alabama's U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville), the senior-most Republican on the committee. The other is U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), the current vice-chairman of the committee.
Cole immediately interest in the post, according to the report from Politico's Caitlin Emma.
In November, Aderholt had hinted at a possible run for the position in a statement he put out.
"When the time comes, and our Conference gives thought to who they want to take up the mantle of House Appropriations, I will be considering, and most certainly praying, about how I could use my talents and experience to advance our party's message and goals, which is ultimately about making this nation strong again, respected again, and of course fiscally responsible again."
Aderholt, along with Granger and Cole, also sought the position in 2018 when then-chairman U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.) announced he was stepping aside.
Aderholt's bid also came when then-U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Tuscaloosa) was chairing the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, which presented difficulties for Aderholt's effort at the time.
Jeff Poor is the editor in chief of 1819 News and host of "The Jeff Poor Show," heard Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon on Mobile's FM Talk 106.5. To connect or comment, email jeff.poor@1819News.com or follow him on Twitter @jeff_poor.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
