Government. Recently, Christians campaign said it would finally drop the slogan after being called bigoted by Warford, who is Jewish. By Russell Gold February 17, 2022 11 Incumbent. Texas Railroad Commissioner Primary Election Results Republican Primary Runoff Wayne Christian and Sarah Stogner have advanced to a runoff. The RRC also has oversight over Texas energy industries and enforces related state and federal laws. 2022 Texas Elections, Candidates, Races and Voting. (9,748 / 9,748) Incumbent Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian, left, and challenger Sarah Stogner speak during a forum in Paris, Texas, on April 26. Ive been trying. The Railroad Commission of Texas has been called one of the most consequential climate-related offices in the country. Despite the misleading name, theRailroad Commission of Texas (RRC) is the primary state agency responsible for regulating Texas oil and gas industry. 2021 Texas Standard. Earlier this month, the Odessa American broke the story of a landowner lawsuit involving a proposed oil-field waste dump north of Midland. Despite the old-timey-sounding name, a seat on the Railroad Commission of Texas has been called one of the most consequential climate-related offices in the country. Find a complete list of them here. Rice-Tims is president of the Republican Women of Red River Valley, which co-hosted the late April forum for the two GOP candidates facing each other in a runoff election for Railroad Commission of Texas, and she also wanted to emphasize that the state agency overseeing the states oil and gas industry has nothing to do with railroads. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. Early voting lasts from Monday through Feb. 25, and election day is March 1. Whats Up With All the Kangaroos on the Loose in Texas? In the last fundraising period, Warford outraised Christian 3:1 and has $318,059 cash on hand compared to Christians $181,412 war chest. I have [contaminated] groundwater, he takes $100,000 bribes, Stogner said, referring to leaking pipes in her West Texas area. Christian is a former gospel singer turned financial adviser turned longtime Texas politician. There is no office that is more corrupt than the Texas Railroad Commission, Warford says. Attention toward the railroad commissioner race shifted during the Republican primaries when oil and gas attorney Sarah Stogner pushed Christian into a runoff after she went viral for a campaign ad of her riding a pumpjack nearly naked. Jessica Cisneros has dipped below 50 percent, with rural Starr and Zapata Counties still not reporting. In order to manage the Texas economy, they want to help and nurture a healthy petroleum industry., I dont think Wayne Christian and the current Railroad commissioners are supporting the industry as a whole, Warford says. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. , Weatherford PD searching for missing 80-year-old, 2nd arrest in SA dog attack that killed elderly man, Killeen arrests several individuals in warrant roundup, TX man gets probation for videoing woman changing, PD: Edinburg bus driver arrested after child left, Biden Admin does not want TX lawsuit in Lubbock, Friday Night Lights star choked ex-wife, police, Get to know our book expert, Ciera Pasturel, Cardio and more for a healthy heart, according to, Insulated doghouses and other accessories to keep, ATX City Council looking at petition requirements, Racial disparities in asthma-related ER visits for, APD provides details surrounding fatal hit-and-run, Officials announce $93M for chronically unhoused, Heres why your car looks disgusting today. Warford is a former business consultant and Democratic Party staffer who wants to be the first Democrat on the commission since 1994, when Mary Scott Nabers lost to Carole Keeton Rylander. Christian said the U.S. produces oil in a cleaner and more environmentally conscious way than the worlds other large energy producers such as China, Russia and Saudi Arabia. Source: Election results and race calls from The Associated Press. Summers name will still be on the ballot, too, because he died too close to election day to change the ballots. Published: Feb. 24, 2022 at 11:19 AM PST TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - Dawayne Tipton, one of the Republicans who is running for Texas Railroad Commissioner, said he is the best qualified for the position because of his years of experience in the oil and gas industry. Christian said the state Legislature, not the Railroad Commission itself, has the authority to change the agencys name. Q: Your opponent Luke Warford has accused you of being corrupt due to campaign contributions you have received from the oil and gas industry. We dont let that hope die, because we know we deserve so much better.. Congress seems like an inevitable reality, he told supporters. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. . Targeting transgender people to rally conservatives is a Texas tradition since a 2015 bathroom bill in Houston. Fleeing for Your Life? Christian said he has never allowed a political contribution to influence my decisions in elected office and said the agencys general counsel advised him to approve the permit for the waste facility with the requirement that the company use a geosynthetic clay liner to protect the environment and remain consistent with other similar permits granted by the Commission. , I am running a positive campaign based on my record, Christian said in the email. Tipton, 41, has also leaned on his oil and gas experience and is running on a platform of being a clear and competent communicator to lead the Railroad Commission. The two main contenders in this years race for commissioner are incumbent Republican Wayne Christian and Democrat Luke Warford. A year ago, the failure of the Texas grid, in large part the result of natural gas infrastructure freezing, led to as many as seven hundred deaths. Against the conclusions of researchers and the complaints of landowners, Christian says the commission is doing a good job when it comes to things like gas flaring and plugging abandoned oil wells. 2:28 PM on Feb 17, 2022 CST. Texas Railroad Commissioner Republican primary Republican primary runoff Election details Filing deadline: December 13, 2021 Primary: March 1, 2022 Primary runoff: May 24, 2022 General: November 8, 2022 Pre-election incumbent (s): Wayne Christian (Republican) How to vote Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voting in Texas Ballotpedia analysis The dental floss, Vaseline and variety of plastic-wrapped goods were intended to underscore to the dozens of attendees the importance of oil and gas to everyday life. The issues that are at stake in the Texas Railroad Commission are so important to Texans, are so important to the future of our state. Irrespective of the length of the unexpired term of the appointee's predecessor, the appointee may . Yet, not many people know what it is or what it does.. Texas 2022 Elections A semi-nude video, corruption allegations and a fatal crash roil GOP primary for Texas Railroad Commission The oldest state regulatory agency, in charge of how oil. I didnt realize it would incite the rage and anger that it did from the press, she told the Chronicle. Republican candidate for Texas Railroad Commissioner Sarah Stogner posted a video last week that is raising eyebrows as voters head to the polls. Courtesy / 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Did it help him decide who he will vote for? Shes punching back, Hommel told a Tribune reporter as Christian spoke. With just over 70 percent of the results in, the Democratic bid for the open seat in Texas competitive 15th District appears destined for a runoff. Advocates are pushing for legislation to help them. David Prindle, a political science professor at UT Austin who wrote a book on the Railroad Commission, says thats a position commissioners have held basically since the start of the Texas oil industry. Texas election rules require that primary candidates receive at least 50 percent of the vote. When someone asked whether she supported shutting down the Keystone XL pipeline project a partially built series of pipelines between Canada and the U.S. that President Joe Biden canceled on his first day in office she said Absolutely not and explained that the Railroad Commission doesnt have jurisdiction over interstate pipelines like Keystone. Neither Christian nor a second GOP challenger, Tom Slocum, has responded to requests for comment by the Chronicle. 2022 Election. The Exit: Teachers Leave. During the course of the debate, local Republicans would ask the candidates incumbent Railroad Commission Chair Wayne Christian, a 71-year-old former state representative and Grammy-nominated gospel singer, and challenger 37-year-old oil and gas lawyer Sarah Stogner what the state has done to improve the states power grid after last years deadly winter storm, what they plan to do about the practice of burning off natural gas through flaring and how strictly the state should regulate the oil and gas industry. For additional information or appointment inquiries, please contact: Jeremy HagenE: jeremy.hagen@rrc.texas.govP: 512-463-7131orWayne Christian P: 512-463-7131E: wayne.christian@rrc.texas.gov, Copyright 2022 | Railroad Commission of Texas. But its not so important that we can contaminate our air, contaminate our groundwater.. Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke hosts a rally at Fair Park in Dallas after announcing his campaign, on Nov. 21, 2021. Are we angry that I looked good on a pumpjack?. But fuck it, this will be fun., In February, the video turned into a now-viral campaign ad for the 37-year-old oil and gas attorney from Monahans, who is running for a seat on the Railroad Commission of Texas, the regulatory agency in charge of the states massive oil and gas sector. Two is decreasing our utility prices because Texas is the energy capital of the world. The two main contenders in this year's race for commissioner are incumbent Republican Wayne Christian and Democrat Luke Warford. The incumbent, Ken Paxton, told supporters that hes preparing for a runoff. Last week, Stogner told KENS 5: I want to put my clothes back on and have a serious conversation. This statement raises questions about what constitutes civil discourse in todays political landscape and whether such standards are applied equally to candidates. AUSTIN High atop a West Texas pumpjack, Republican Railroad Commission candidate Sarah Stogner nearly bared it all in a recent social media post that is bringing . What is your response to his allegations against you? Its free. More than a year after the winter freeze, the Railroad Commission hasnt crafted rules for how oil and gas companies should prepare for extreme weather. What is the least-visited state park in Texas? A few days after the American article appeared, the race took another turn when candidate Marvin Sarge Summers, owner of an oil-field networking website from Lubbock, died in a car accident outside Midland while traveling between campaign appearances. The New York Timess results team is a group of graphics editors, engineers and reporters who build and maintain software to publish election results in real-time as they are reported by results providers. Commissioners are elected to six-year staggered terms, with one commissioner being up for election every two years, according to Ballotpedia . EXCLUSIVE: Texas Railroad Commission candidate appearing nearly nude on pumpjack has 'no regrets' By Greg Groogan Published February 28, 2022 News FOX 26 Houston Railroad Commission candidate appears nearly nude on pump jack during campaign I didnt even know who she was until I saw the ad., Former Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton, who was upset in the 2020 Republican primary election after serving one term, said he thought Stogner was smart and had the technical and legal expertise required for the job, but her video probably dismissed any legitimate shot she had at winning the race.. The winner will face Democrat Luke Warford in the November general election. What would be your top three priorities as railroad commissioner? He touts his experience in the oil patch and has attacked the Railroad Commission for failing to act quickly to ensure that natural gas pipelines and compressors are able to withstand cold weather. Candidates The following is a list of candidates running for office in the 2022 Texas Railroad Commissioner election. I feel like Im using my platform well, she told KUT after giving remarks to the group of residents, activists and Democratic politicians. (Christian did not respond to KUTs request for an interview.). Christian did not respond to criticism of the commissions handling of the grids collapse, but in an email he did rebut allegations from some of his opponents that accepting a big campaign donation from the company that received the oil waste dump permit amounted to a payoff for his vote. The Railroad Commission of Texas has been called one of the most consequential climate-related offices in the country. Teen arrested regarding fentanyl overdose death, The story of 12 students who integrated ATX schools, How to get to Q2 Stadium for 2023 Austin FC season, PHOTOS: Some of Austins most modern homes, Cities offer free tree, brush disposals post-storm, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Candidates for federal office must file a federal application . At a time when newsroom resources and revenue across the country are declining, The Texas Tribune remains committed to sustaining our mission: creating a more engaged and informed Texas with every story we cover, every event we convene and every newsletter we send. Greg Abbott, issued a statement all but conceding, and seeking credit for forcing the governor to the right on issues. Stogner, who posted the steamy video on Super Bowl Sunday, said it was shot in November by a documentary crew she hired for her campaign against incumbent Wayne Christian, the Houston Chronicle reported. Fonda was also there to bring money from her climate-change-focused political action committee to state political races and to whip up votes for the Democrats. I disagree that were for all. A GOP primary that saw one candidate die in a campaign-related car accident, a second pose nearly nude on top of a pump jack and a third get accused of corruption has taken yet another unexpected turn. Slocum is hoping his support of conservative priorities top issues on his campaign website include building the border wall and protecting gun ownership, issues the Railroad Commission has no jurisdiction over and his years of experience working in oil and gas operations and plugging abandoned oil wells will help propel him over the incumbent. Published: Feb. 18, 2022 at 6:25 AM PST MIDLAND, Texas (KOSA) - The Permian Basin Association of Pipeliners held a panel for Republican candidates for Railroad Commissioner last night at. Zapata flipped to Donald Trump in 2020. Meanwhile, the Public Utility Commission of Texas, which regulates power plants, drafted and implemented weatherization rules in October. Railroad Commissioner (Rep) . Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Sign Up for Daily News & Breaking News Newsletters, Sign up for Digging Deep: Inside KXAN Investigates newsletter. Hommel, who won election earlier this year to chair the Lamar County Republicans, said the event helped the crowd learn more about the candidates and the agency that many Texans dont really understand. Christian: I am running for re-election because I feel my experience and perspective can still benefit Texans. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Stogner, who lives on a ranch in Monahans, west of Odessa, said Christian is a politician bought and controlled by donors. But for Christian, who argues that whats good for the oil industry is good for Texas, a coziness with industry is not necessarily a bad thing. Ad Paid for by Wayne Christian for Texas Texas Statewide Candidates 2022. And I thought, oh my God, yes, what if I got naked or almost naked on top of it? Stogner said. In a lot of ways this election cycle for this race is totally different than any that weve seen before, says Warford, because the issues are just way more in peoples faces.. Texas Railroad Commissioner candidate Sarah Stogner would be a much-needed breath of fresh air. Compare the candidates policies, political views, popularity ratings, and latest public opinion polling. This Texas primary race is off the rails. Railroad Commissioner: x-$3,750 -5000: Justice, Supreme Court g: x-$3,750 -5000: We dont know who asked to comply, we have no assurances that they actually have complied. Q for Christian: Why should Texans elect you again? Its name remains problematic, noted Sunset Advisory Commission staff in 2016, in recommending it be rechristened the Texas Energy Resources Commission. But I am, and have I got your attention now? A woman running for railroad commissioner in the Lone Star State has raised eyebrows over her racy campaign video in which she straddles an oil pump wearing little more than a cowboy hat and boots. Commissioner Wayne Christian. Well, hes a career politician and shes got some good ideas, Gaines said. Despite the agencys power over Texas largest industry including the natural gas system, a crucial element of the Texas power grid that failed last year during a powerful winter storm, leaving millions of people without power for days elections for the three-member board that oversees it typically dont generate much attention from voters. Texas Election Information. Top Three Internal Priorities: 1) Continue to modernize agency to increase efficiencies, speed up permitting, and decrease. Christian was the top choice of 9% of registered voters in that poll, with the other candidates receiving between 3% and 5%. Three days later, the group headquartered in Center that was behind the dump gave Christian a $100,000 campaign contribution. Q: How would you address further securing the power grid as we head into winter? In Texas, voters will elect officials for seven statewide seats governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, land commissioner, agriculture commissioner, comptroller and one of three seats on the Railroad Commission. Democrat Attorney General candidates are in the same boat. On Twitter Q: What would be your top priorities in another term as railroad commissioner? Now Shes Auctioning Off Her Archive. To me, the most astonishing thing about the Texas primaries is that in 2020 there were more than a dozen competitive House districts in the state. Earlier in the day, Greg Casar was praying for a 50-percent-plus-one win. I want to talk about winterizing our infrastructure pipelines. The oil and gas industry and the Railroad Commission have a huge impact on Texans clean air and clean water and the environment.. Odessa Headlines does not endorse or support any candidate for elected office. The Chairman is chosen by the Commissioners. Warford: I actually think lowering emissions is in the interest and makes sense for Texas, not just from an environmental perspective, but from an industry perspective as well, right, especially with everything happening in Europe, right now, European natural gas buyers are going to be looking to buy hydrocarbons from elsewhere around the world. Suggest a missing candidate here. Feb. 23, 202212 PM Central. Feb. 11, 2022 Updated: Feb. 15, 2022 12:27 p.m. Facebook Twitter Email. With now more than 95 percent reporting, it appears Monica De La Cruz will avoid a runoff and clinch the Republican nomination for the open seat in the 15th Congressional District. If you were near the Mount Carmel apartments in East Austin on a recent sunny morning you might have spotted an unlikely celebrity in a little crowd gathered on the lawn. Christian: My top priorities as commissioner are to fight back against the Biden administrations radical anti-oil and gas agenda to increase the domestic production of oil and natural gas to decrease the cost of gas and groceries and increase energy security., Warford: Three main things Im focused on are one securing our grid so that Texans dont have to live in fear that the power is gonna go out the next time it gets cold. In order to keep the power grid from total collapse, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas directed transmission companies to cut off power to residents, businesses and gas producing facilities because they were not registered as critical infrastructure part of a cascade of power failures that led to hundreds of deaths. Updated Mar. It doesnt get click bait., The candidate said the clip has opened opportunities to discuss the real issues about her campaign.The video is being perceived just as I desired, a knock on the door and now that door is open, she told Fox News. Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian, the incumbent, did not receive 50% of the vote. Though I will not be contesting the outcome of this election, I will not be going away, he said in a statement. He criticized Christians role in last Februarys deadly winter freeze, when power outages and equipment failures choked off much of the fuel to many of the states gas-fired power plants when they needed it most to produce electricity. I knew it would be controversial. If the incumbent had been more proactive when the event was actually happening and reached out to ERCOT and implored them not to shed that critical load, which compounded our power generation problems, we wouldnt have been in nearly as bad of a situation as we were, Tipton said. Takethequiz. Those issues include: the Texas blackout last year (caused in large part by problems along the natural gas supply chain that the commission regulates); the role big industry donations play in Railroad Commission policy decisions; the current high price of natural gas; and the routine practice of gas flaring in the Texas oil fields, which wastes . By 8:30 p.m., it became clear that he was the Democratic nominee for the 35th Congressional District, all but ensuring a win in the general election. Students Suffer. Stogners seminude stunt is only the latest twist in what has become the strangest Republican primary campaign for Railroad Commission in decades. The Aransas County Elections & Voter Registration Building, . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. And I want to change that.. Get your TribFest tickets by May 31 and save big! 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While it no longer helps set global oil prices, as it did in the forties and fifties, the Railroad Commission still oversees fossil-fuel production and pipelines. Cheers broke out for the first time at Jessica Cisneros watch party, as the large screens flashed results showing her with her just above 50 percent in the 28th Congressional District. It was a Hail Mary to energize her campaign. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribunes journalism. Since taking office, Commissioner Christian has been appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC) as the Official Representative of Texas. iSideWith.com may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our affiliate partnerships with retailers. Tipton has won the support of the editorial boards of most of the states major papers, including the Houston Chronicle and the Dallas Morning News. Im running because Wayne Christian, my opponent, is a career politician who takes 99% of his campaign contributions from the industry hes supposed to regulate.
