Salem, Ore. – Republicans have elected Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) the next chairman of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Walden defeated Reps. John Shimkus (R-Ill.) and Joe Barton (R-Texas), the former committee chairman, in the race for the gavel. Current chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.), is stepping down from the position due to term limits.
“Look this was tough,” Walden said after the vote. “John Shimkus and Joe Barton are both good friends and they are excellent legislators. They both have roles where they will continue to be leaders”, Wyden told The Hill.com.
Support for Walden’s elevation to chairman surged after two successful terms as head of the House GOP’s campaign arm, a tenure that endeared him to both leadership and the House GOP Steering Committee members who elected him on Thursday.
A nine-term lawmaker, Walden has experience on both the Energy panel and within the industries over which it has jurisdiction.
He previously owned radio stations in Oregon and has chaired the panel’s technology and telecom subcommittee. He has also worked on healthcare issues in rural Oregon.
Technology and healthcare are among the biggest industries under the control of the energy panel. The committee also oversees with the American energy sector and issues as diverse as consumer protection and encryption.
Republicans watching the contest said Walden’s work at the National Republican Congressional Committee — where he helped secure the GOP’s largest majority since the Great Depression, raised millions of dollars for candidates and limited Republican losses in last month’s election — helped him nail down the chairmanship.
