Trump Nominates Two CFTC Commissioners Amid Prediction Market Debate

With Congress a few weeks away from a Republican-led Senate shake-up, President Donald Trump has nominated two potential commissioners to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission: Nathan Anonick and Matthew Rowland. 

Anonick is a Republican and also the legislative counsel to John Boozman, the Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman. Rowland is a Democrat and is a CFTC attorney. Should they be confirmed, they'd work alongside Chairman Michael Selig, who's overseen prediction markets alone. 

“@POTUS made two strong bipartisan picks for @CFTC Commissioners with Nathan Anonick and Matthew Rowland,” Selig said on X. “I congratulate them on their nominations and look forward to working with each of them upon their confirmation by the US Senate.”

.@POTUS made two strong bipartisan picks for @CFTC Commissioners with Nathan Anonick and Matthew Rowland. I congratulate them on their nominations and look forward to working with each of them upon their confirmation by the US Senate. https://t.co/pLyf4061YY

— Mike Selig (@ChairmanSelig) November 12, 2026

Senate Faces Deadline to Confirm Trump's CFTC Nominees

These nominations hit the Senate on Thursday, nine days after Democrats won control of the Senate in the midterm elections. The Republicans held unified control for two years. 

Now, the Senate will have mere weeks to confirm these two nominations. If not, they'll have to be resubmitted. The Senate Agriculture Committee has jurisdiction over both nominees, and both nominees work for that committee, so this could speed things up. 

Anonick was nominated for a seat formerly held by Rostin Benham. It could be for a term expiring on June 19, 2031. 

Rowland would serve for the rest of former Commissioner Summer Mersinger's term, which ends on April 13, 2028. 

President Trump also nominated two people to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday. Former CFTC Commissioner Kristin Johnson (Democrat) would replace Caroline Crenshaw, while Steven Levine (Republican) would take over for Hester Peirce. 

New CFTC Commissioners Could Shape Prediction Market Oversight

As mentioned, Selig has led the CFTC solo since December 2025. The CFTC is set up to be bipartisan: it has five seats, and one party can hold only three. 

Should Anonick and Rowland make it through, they'll have a say in prediction market platforms, which have become a hot-button issue, with New Jersey petitioning the Supreme Court. 

The big issue is sports event contracts, which began being offered in early 2025, shortly after President Trump came in for his second term. 

Selig has maintained that the CFTC has jurisdiction over prediction market platforms, while states argue it falls under their gambling laws.