Cole considered early favorite to win House Appropriations gavel

And Democrats will be looking for ways to boost nondefense spending, especially as some of the debt limit law’s “side deal” money that would have increased fiscal 2025 nondefense spending was tapped for fiscal 2024 in the renegotiated appropriations agreement between Johnson, R-La., and Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y.

Cole’s preparation

Cole, 74, has been angling for the position for years, and was part of the crowded field in 2018 running for the post when Granger, R-Texas, was elected to replace former Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J.

That contest consisted of five Republicans, including Aderholt, though Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho., dropped out when it was clear Republicans had lost the majority in that midterm election.

This time, Cole has a much clearer path to the gavel.

He quickly consolidated support from his fellow appropriators, with cardinals Mark Amodei of Nevada, John Carter of Texas, Ken Calvert of California, Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, Chuck Fleischmann of Tennessee, David Joyce of Ohio, Harold Rogers of Kentucky, Simpson and Steve Womack of Arkansas rallying behind him.

Womack called Cole “the obvious choice” for the position, citing his experience leading three subcommittees — Transportation-HUD, Labor-HHS-Education and Legislative Branch — and his understanding of the appropriations process.

“He is the most capable, and the most prepared,” Womack said. “There’s not even a close second, in my opinion.”

Cole also boasts strong relationships across the aisle, as he was the top Republican on the Labor-HHS-Education subcommittee, working alongside the panel’s top Democrat, the full committee’s current ranking member Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., for six years. In that role, Cole was a staunch advocate for medical research and funding for the National Institutes of Health.

Cole represents a south-central Oklahoma district including Norman and part of Oklahoma City, and is the longest-serving Native American member of Congress, a member of the Chickasaw Nation.

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