Joe Biden’s debate-night declaration that he plans to “transition from the oil industry” has down-ballot Democrats in close races distancing themselves from the Democratic presidential nominee.
“I disagree with VP Biden’s statement tonight,” New Mexico Rep. Xochitl Torres Small said in a tweet soon after the debate ended. “Energy is part of the backbone of New Mexico’s economy. We need to work together to promote responsible energy production and stop climate change, not demonize a single industry.”
Torres Small, elected as part of the “blue wave” in 2018, represents a southern New Mexico district that experienced an oil and gas boom in recent years. President Trump won the district in 2016 by 10 points, and Torres Small is in a tight rematch race against former state Rep. Yvette Herrell.
I disagree with VP Biden’s statement tonight. Energy is part of the backbone of New Mexico’s economy. We need to work together to promote responsible energy production and stop climate change, not demonize a single industry. 1/2
— Xochitl Torres Small (@XochforCongress) October 23, 2020
In oil and gas-rich Oklahoma, freshman Rep. Kendra Horn of the state’s populous 5th Congressional District is in a similarly vulnerable spot. Trump won the district by 13 points in 2016, and Horn, facing a close race against Republican state Sen. Stephanie Bice, has framed herself as a defender of the state’s established oil and gas industries.
“Here’s one of the places Biden and I disagree. We must stand up for our oil and gas industry,” Horn said in a tweet Thursday night. “We need an all-of-the-above energy approach that’s consumer friendly, values energy independence, and protects OK jobs. I’ll keep fighting for that in Congress.”
Here’s one of the places Biden and I disagree. We must stand up for our oil and gas industry. We need an all-of-the-above energy approach that’s consumer friendly, values energy independence, and protects OK jobs. I’ll keep fighting for that in Congress. https://t.co/9fIaZ8pyY1
— Kendra Horn (@HornForCongress) October 23, 2020
Biden made the comment about the oil industry near the end of Thursday’s debate in response to a question posed by Trump.
“I would transition from the oil industry, yes,” Biden said. “It has to be replaced by renewable energy over time. Over time. And I’d stop giving to the oil industry — I’d stop giving them federal subsidies.”
Trump immediately tried to use Biden’s statement to communicate the consequences of leaving the energy industry to key Electoral College states.
“Basically what he’s saying is he’s going to destroy the oil industry, Will you remember that, Texas? Will you remember that, Pennsylvania? Oklahoma? Ohio?” he said.
After the debate, Biden and his campaign attempted to clean up his statement. A top campaign aide told the Washington Post that Biden was referring to ending oil subsidies.
Asked by reporters about his comment before getting on a plane back to Delaware, Biden said: “We’re not getting rid of fossil fuels. We’re getting rid of the subsidies for fossil fuels, but we’re not getting rid of fossil fuels for a long time. It will not be gone for [inaudible] probably 2050.”
“They’re not going to lose their jobs,” Biden said of people who work in the oil and gas industries. “There are a lot more jobs that are gonna be created in other alternatives.”
Joe Biden says he would “transition” the United States away from the oil industry and that “it has to be replaced by renewable energy over time.” https://t.co/rx3OQfGFCg #Debates2020 pic.twitter.com/3wv770l4b7
— NBC News (@NBCNews) October 23, 2020
