Midterms 2026: Science Appropriators Up for Reelection

Regardless of the results of the midterm elections in November, some committee leadership will likely turn over once the 120th Congress takes over in early 2027. On the powerful appropriations committees, which set the federal budget, all the leaders in the House and several in the Senate will face voters this year.

If Democrats take control of the House or Senate, they will also take over the chair positions of that chamber’s committees. Those positions are typically, but not always, filled by the committee’s previous ranking member. Similarly, chairs who get bumped out by a loss of the majority often stay on the committee as their party’s ranking member.

If Republicans retain control of either chamber, many of the chairs in that chamber will likely remain in their positions.

Committee assignments, including the chair and ranking member roles, are determined by complex systems internal to the parties. As a result, any leaders who lose reelection will likely see their committee leadership positions filled by current members of Congress, rather than their successors.

The following is a rundown of some of the most important committees for science policy and which of their leaders are up for reelection.

Appropriations committees and their subcommittees

The House Appropriations Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee are in charge of setting the budget of the federal government through their 12 subcommittees. The leaders of those committees have substantial power over the entire federal budget, including science funding.

In the Senate, Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) is up for reelection in a closely watched race against Graham Platner (D). Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) is not up for reelection in 2026.

In the House, Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-OK) won his primary in June and will face Mitchell Jacob (D) in the general election in November. Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) is running for reelection in her district’s Democratic primary, which ends on Aug. 11.

Each appropriations subcommittee has jurisdiction over several federal agencies, which are roughly grouped according to their focus areas.

The leaders of those subcommittees have significant influence over the budgets and policies of the agencies they oversee. They play a leading role in setting funding levels for those agencies and can appropriate money to specific programs. The bills they draft can also influence agency behavior in other ways, such as by barring the use of funds for certain purposes, reorganizing agencies, and placing stipulations on spending.

Most federal science funding flows from agencies that fall under five subcommittees, detailed below.

Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee

The CJS Subcommittee oversees NASA, the National Science Foundation, and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. It also covers the Commerce Department, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Senate Chair Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Ranking Member Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) are not up for reelection in 2026.

In the House, Chair Hal Rogers (R-KY) is running for reelection against Ned Pillersdorf (D). This is Rogers’s second term as chair. Ranking Member Grace Meng (D-NY) is running for reelection against Chuck Park during the Democratic primary for New York’s 6th District, which ends on June 23.

Energy and Water Development Subcommittee

This subcommittee oversees the budget for the Department of Energy, including its 17 national labs and the National Nuclear Security Administration.

Senate Chair John Kennedy (R-LA) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) are not up for reelection in 2026.

House Chair Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN) is currently running unopposed in the Republican primary for Tennessee’s 3rd District, which ends on Aug. 6. Fleischmann also served as the chair of this committee during his previous term. Ranking Member Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) is running for reelection against Derek Merrin (R) and Matthew Althaus (L) in the general election.

Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee

This subcommittee sets the budget for the Environmental Protection Agency and most of the Interior Department, including the U.S. Geological Survey.

In the Senate, Chair Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) is not up for reelection, but Ranking Member Jeff Merkley (D-OR) is running for reelection against Oregon State Senator David Brock Smith (R).

In the House, Chair Mike Simpson (R-ID) is running for reelection against Elinor Gilbreath (D). He served as the ranking member of the subcommittee from 2009 to 2011. Ranking Member Chellie Pingree (D-ME) is running for reelection against Ron Russell (R).

Defense Subcommittee

This subcommittee oversees the budget of the armed forces, including its R&D spending.

In the Senate, Chair Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is retiring after this term, and his seat is up for election this year. Ranking Member Christopher Coons (D-DE) is being challenged by Christopher Beardsley in the Democratic primary in Delaware, which ends on Sept. 15.

Chair Ken Calvert (R-CA) advanced in a closely contested nonpartisan primary for California’s 40th District in June. He has been chair of this committee for the past two terms and served as ranking member from 2019 to 2022. Ranking Member Betty McCollum (D-MN) is up for reelection. Her district’s Democratic primary ends on Aug. 11.

Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee

This subcommittee oversees the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Education.

Senate Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) is running against Rachel Fetty Anderson (D) in the general election. Ranking Member Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) is not up for reelection.

In the House, Chair Robert Aderholt (R-AL) is running for reelection against Amanda Pusczek. This is his second term as subcommittee chair. Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), also the ranking member of the full Appropriations Committee, is up for reelection against Damjan DeNoble and Andrew Rice in the Democratic primary for Connecticut’s 3rd District, which ends on Aug. 11.