Arizona Representative Raul Grijalva read the writing on the wall and bowed out of contention for the top spot for the Democrats on the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee.
The full House Democratic caucus voted unanimously this afternoon in favor of DeFazio, who won an initial nod of approval from the Democrats’ Steering and Policy Committee on a 33-16 vote on Wednesday. Because Grijalva got over 14 votes from the committee, the full caucus had to weigh in.
DeFazio supported an increase in logging on U.S. Bureau of Land Management forests in western Oregon. Grijalva has lost the support of many in labor unions for his opposition to mining in Arizona.
Grijalva’s challenge was seen as a long shot and an affront to the seniority system practiced by most unions. DeFazio is the most senior Democrat on the committee, while Grijalva ranks sixth in seniority.
In a prepared statement after the vote, DeFazio said he will “push a 21st century energy policy that promotes conservation and the development of renewable resources on federal lands and waters.” He said he is committed to “climate change action” and developing “sustainable forestry practices that improve forest health, protect irreplaceable old growth, and prevent catastrophic fires.”
De Fazio told The Register Guard that he would have won by a 3-to-1 margin if Grijalva had insisted on a contested caucus vote.