HOUSTON- Valero Energy Corp, the second largest U.S. crude oil refiner, is "not as pessimistic" about a possible administration led by Democrat Joe Biden, company Chief Executive Joe Gorder said on Thursday.

"We're not as pessimistic as some people are about a possible change in administrations," Gorder told Wall Street analysts in a Thursday morning conference to discuss third quarter results.

(Reporting by Erwin Seba) ((erwin.seba@thomsonreuters.com; +1 713 210 8508; Reuters Messaging: erwin.seba.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))