A battle on the political left is setting up over the nomination for Agriculture Secretary as liberal groups are pushing back against one of the names being floated for the position.
 
On Tuesday, groups representing "environmental, animal welfare, public health and sustainable agriculture" plan to release a letter calling on President-elect Joe Biden to not nominate former North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp for the top USDA job. The groups state Heitkamp should not be considered "due to her record championing climate-destroying factory farms, cutting SNAP nutrition benefit and sidelining family farm interests in favor of agriculture."
 
At least some of the same groups opposed to Heitkamp are backing Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, for Agriculture Secretary.
 
“Throughout her career, Congresswoman Fudge has been an unparalleled ally to consumers, farmers, food-chain workers and rural communities, and we urge President-elect Biden to make her the next secretary of agriculture," said Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food & Water Action. "Now more than ever, as the Trump administration currently seeks to decimate food inspection rules, we need a champion like Rep. Fudge leading the way in restoring common-sense food safety standards in America."
 
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