Former North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp has been seen as a frontrunner for the agriculture secretary post in the new Biden Administration. However, the Progressive wing of the Democratic Party is pushing back at that possibility. More than 150 food, environment and consumer advocacy groups, including the Organic Consumers Association, Family Farm Action and the Humane Society of the United States Legislative Fund, are asking the Biden campaign to remove Heitkamp’s name from consideration. Heitkamp has voiced concern about the party moving too far to the left and turning off moderate Democrats and independents. The groups signing this letter to the campaign claim Heitkamp would boost corporate interests and continue the Trump Administration’s farm policy. Meanwhile, the North Dakota Farmers Union has endorsed Heitkamp for the USDA cabinet post. NDFU President Mark Watne said Heitkamp would bring “a well-balanced approach to the position.”
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