Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) on Tuesday picked up the endorsement of a key moderate Democrat in his bid to stay on as Energy and Commerce chairman.

Rep. Artur Davis (Ala.), vice chairman of the House New Democrat Coalition, called for keeping Dingell atop the panel in the face of a challenge from liberal Rep. Henry Waxman (Calif.). House Democrats are staged to decide next week whether Dingell will retain the gavel for another two years, or whether to hand the powerful post over to Waxman.

Dingell “recognizes that restoring our economy’s health is the critical task for our new president and that now is not the time to take risks with the future of our manufacturing sector,” Davis said in a statement. “Chairman Dingell also realizes that the challenges of climate change are real and demand a pragmatic approach that is not rooted in ideology.”

Davis expressed concern that Alabama’s economy “is vulnerable to the wrong energy policies being implemented,” and said Dingell has a better appreciation of his home state’s interests.

He said he is sending a letter to his newly elected Democratic colleagues from Alabama — Reps.-elect Bobby Bright and Parker Griffith — urging them to support Dingell as well.