House panel backs Waxman as energy chairman

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Rep. Henry Waxman of California narrowly won a preliminary contest on Wednesday to replace Rep. John Dingell of Michigan as chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee.

On a secret-ballot vote of 25-22, the House Democratic Steering Committee recommended that Waxman head the energy panel in the new Congress set to convene in January.

It remained unclear, however, if the full 255-member House Democratic conference on Thursday would accept recommendation or instead decide to stick with Dingell as chairman.

(Reporting by Thomas Ferraro; editing by Sandra Maler)