Republicans decided not to go ahead with a vote Tuesday to put Stickler in charge after the Democrats made it clear he did not have their vote.
According to an Associated Press report, the Democrats said Stickler had spent too many years as a coal mining executive and failed to demonstrate that safety was his top priority.
Republicans said Stickler had managed coal companies and had worked as a miner and headed Pennsylvania's Bureau of Deep Mine Safety.
He has been backed by the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
“In light of recent mine tragedies, the HELP committee has started drafting mine safety legislation – the first major overhaul of mine safety legislation in 40 years. It is essential that MSHA have leadership to implement that legislation [and] Mr Stickler will ensure that leadership," US Senator and HELP chair Mike Enzi said in March.
