SENATE CONFIRMS PERDUE AS AGRICULTURE SECRETARY

The Senate on Monday confirmed former Georgia governor Sonny Perdue to be Agriculture secretary in President Trump’s administration as the farming industry looks to Washington for help amid a market downturn.

Perdue won confirmation on a strong bipartisan vote of 87- 11, as several Democrats backed a Trump nominee after razor- thin outcomes for his choices earlier this year. Perdue’s cousin, Sen. David Perdue, R- Ga., voted “present” but presided over the vote and announced the final tally.

Sonny Perdue will be the first Southerner in the post in more than two decades. He has owned several agricultural businesses, but isn’t related to the food company Perdue or the poultry producer Perdue Farms.