Results show energy won big in 2014’s elections, Gerard says

Energy was the big winner in the 2014 elections, American Petroleum Institute Pres. Jack N. Gerard said the day after polls closed and ballots were counted. “In race after race, voters from all regions of our nation and from both political parties voted for pro-development, true all-of-the-above energy policies,” he said.

The trend extended beyond US Senate races, where Republicans regained the majority after 6 years, to several gubernatorial contests, Gerard told reporters in a Nov. 5 teleconference. Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D), who lost his reelection bid, had stood in the way of oil and gas development in that state, while Colorado Gov. John W. Hickenlooper (D), whose background as a geologist helped him support oil and gas activity, was reelected for another 4 years, Gerard said.

He said that Hickenlooper prevailed while another Colorado Democrat, US Sen. Mark Udall, “who was reluctant to support the Keystone XL pipeline,” lost his seat to US Rep. Cory Gardner (R), who supported the proposed project.

Backing TransCanada Corp.’s proposed 1,179-mile crude oil pipeline from Hardisty, Alta., to Steele City, Neb., did not guarantee another federal lawmaker’s reelection, however. During Gerard’s teleconference, US Rep. Lee Terry (R-Neb.), who wrote a bill the House passed to transfer decision-making authority on the project’s cross-border permit from US President Barack Obama, conceded to Democrat Brad Ashford in Omaha after losing by more than 4,000 votes.

“Most candidates have gotten the message on energy issues generally and Keystone XL, specifically. And that’s because they have heard from voters on these issues,” Gerard said. If the next Congress is serious about living up to its energy campaign promises, it should quickly advance a pro-energy, pro-growth agenda that includes increasing access to domestic oil and gas resources, reform the federal Renewable Fuel Standard, and approve Keystone XL, he suggested.

Gerard said an election night telephone survey of 827 voters by Harris Poll for API found 90% agreeing that increased US oil and gas production could lead to more jobs, and 86% saying that it stimulated the general economy. For 2016, 66% of the respondents said they were more likely in 2016 to back a candidate who supported more domestic oil and gas development, Gerard added.

“When people focus on the American energy renaissance and see the broad value to consumers, you’ll see they support taking advantage of this unique opportunity,” he said.

Contact Nick Snow at [email protected].