Waxman Topples Dingell, Claims Gavel at House Energy and Commerce

The intramural showdown was one of the most dramatic in recent memory.

“It was like Zeus and Thor in there, hurling lightning bolts at each other. You just wanted to duck and get out of the way,” said George Miller , D-Calif., who had been whipping up support for Waxman.

After the vote, Waxman publicly repeated the case he had made to the caucus. “We are at a unique moment in history,” he said. “We have an opportunity that comes once in a generation.”

Waxman said, “Seniority is important, but it should not grant the priorty rights to hold a chairmanship for three decades.”

He said, “We have people hurting all around the country. They’re demanding change. They’re demanding action”

Hilda L. Solis , D-Calif., a Waxman backer, said, “I think it gives hope for change, the change the electorate was hoping for.”

But Lewis, a champion of the seniority system, was downbeat. “I think in the long run we will pay for what we did today,” he said. “It’s not good for the order of things.”

Long Rivalry, With Autos at Center

Waxman’s takeover at Energy and Commerce caps a quarter-century rivalry between him and Dingell. While they agree on many issues — most notably health care — the two men have clashed since the 1980s over environmental regulations. Waxman is a staunch advocate of strong clean air protections and stringent fuel-efficiency and energy conservation measures.

Dingell has been a fierce protector of the auto industry, which is crucial to the economy of his home state of Michigan. His loss of the gavel is another big blow to an industry that is already reeling.

Sen. Barbara Boxer , D-Calif., who chairs the Environment and Public Works Committee that will take the lead on global warming legislation in the Senate, said Waxman’s victory bodes well for that push next year.

“Waxman and I are very strong allies ... As a Californian, I’ve watched Henry over the years. I could not, frankly, have a better partner,” she said Thursday.

Waxman’s victory gives him control of one of the most powerful committees in Congress, with jurisdiction that touches almost every corner of domestic policy, from energy to health care to telecommunications.

Waxman Topples Dingell, Claims Gavel at House Energy and Commerce

But it appeared the heart of Waxman’s takeover bid was a desire to steer legislation to address global warming, a priority of Obama’s. Waxman is expected to move more boldly and quickly on a climate change bill than Dingell, and would likely press legislation with tougher emissions caps.

Liberals have complained that Dingell moved too slowly on climate change, finally releasing draft legislation just last month. The proposal included language that would block states such as California from setting tougher auto emissions standards than the federal government set.

That put Dingell at odds with both Waxman and Pelosi, who have fought hard to retain California’s emissions standards. Though Pelosi did not publicly choose sides in the Dingell-Waxman contest, having Waxman at the helm of the Energy panel will allow her to move a stronger environmental agenda.

Though many lawmakers said they were stunned by Waxman’s challenge to Dingell, he appears to have telegraphed his intent as far back as June 2007, when Dingell circulated a draft energy bill that would have stripped states of their authority to regulate car and truck tailpipe emissions.

Dingell had advocated such a position as far back as the 1980s. But it most directly affects California, which pioneered clean-air rules in the 1960s and remains the only state explicitly allowed by law to set its own vehicle emission standards. Other states can adopt California-style standards as a tougher alternative to federal rules.

Waxman viewed Dingell’s move as a personal affront, not only because it would quash efforts by a dozen states — California most influential among them — to regulate tailpipe emissions to tackle global warming, but also because, in Waxman’s view, Dingell had gone back on his word.

Stealth Campaign

While Dingell waged a very public battle to retain his chairmanship, releasing lists of colleagues who were whipping for him or backing his cause, Waxman stayed mum.

He worked the phones and used a whip team that included a number of close Pelosi allies.

He also poured money into the campaign coffers of Democratic challengers who se election victories turned them into voters in Thursday’s caucus showdown.

In the 2007-2008 election cycle, Waxman and his LA PAC gave out $38,000 to newly elected members, compared with $24,000 given out to new members by Dingell and his Wolverine PAC. The two men gave money to many of the same candidates, especially moderate Democrats in tight races.

Rep.-elect Jim Himes, D-Conn., said Wednesday that the contest caught freshmen “off-guard.” Himes described himself as a “meritocrat” who believes creative ideas should be rewarded. But, he said, seniority is also important.

Jonathan Allen, Alan K. Ota and Michael Teitelbaum contributed to this story.