A spokeswoman for Henry Waxman says the California Democrat has been selected by a key leadership panel to replace veteran Chairman John Dingell as head of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over the FDA.

This is only a preliminary round, though. Waxman, 69, and the 82-year-old Dingell, who has served as the committee’s top Democrat for 28 years, will square off today in a vote of rank-and-file House Democrats. But based on a 25-22 vote in the leadership panel yesterda, Waxman has to be considered the favorite to topple Dingell, the longest serving House member.

Waxman, who chairs the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee, is just as likely to scrutinize pharma, given his track record, which includes railing against preemption; chastising the FDA’s stance toward off-label promotion; calling Medicare Part D a windfall for pharma and urging the US Trade Rep to respect compulsory licensing.