A political analyst says the outcome of the November election could determine when Congress acts on the next farm bill, adding another layer of uncertainty to legislation that has already missed a key committee deadline.

David Wasserman of the Cook Political Report told Brownfield that if Republicans keep control of Congress, which he said he does not think is likely at this point, a farm bill would be even more likely to pass in a lame duck session. Wasserman said that is because a number of departing members may want to strengthen their legacy before leaving office.

Even then, he said the House Freedom Caucus could still slow progress over issues such as trade provisions or nationwide, year-round E15, both of which have been recurring points of negotiation in farm policy discussions.

If Democrats win control of one or both chambers of Congress, Wasserman said they would likely wait until January to negotiate.

“They’re not going to be in a mood to cut a deal,” Wasserman said. “We’ve seen this with Senate Democrats now who have not really engaged in the negotiations to the extent that Republicans want. And instead, Democrats would be waiting until January when they have more members and more power.”

The U.S. Senate Ag Committee failed to advance a farm bill out of committee before the August recess, but it is expected to take up the bill again when senators return to Washington, D.C. in mid-September.

That timing matters because farm bill debates often hinge on committee movement first, then broader floor action later in the year, leaving the post-election calendar as a key factor for lawmakers, farm groups and other stakeholders watching the process.

Watch more on the upcoming elections in the latest Inside D.C.