Graves to Retain Transportation Gavel After Crawford Withdraws

Sam Graves is poised to be chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the 119th Congress after a challenger for the gavel withdrew Wednesday.

Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) said he would no longer run for the top spot after talking with his colleagues. In a statement, Crawford said abandoning his candidacy is “in the best interest of the Conference and will promote unity within our ranks.”

That clears the path for Graves (R-Mo.) to continue leading the committee as he works to craft new surface transportation legislation — a major, multiyear bill setting highway and transit policies that ...