Incumbent Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian, left, and challenger Sarah Stogner speak during a forum in Paris, Texas, on April 26. Do you value our journalism? 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. Christian: I am running for re-election because I feel my experience and perspective can still benefit Texans. 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 Governor, incumbent Dan Patrick . The RRC also has oversight over Texas energy industries and enforces related state and federal laws. What is the least-visited state park in Texas? She will also help bring landowners back into the conversation to ensure all stakeholders are represented and heard by the Commission. We expect candidates for public office to model civil discourse and decorum worthy of the publics trust. Read our privacy policy for more information. ( NewsNation) Railroad workers have been sounding the alarm for years over railway safety concerns, and a string of recent train derailments have brought these issues into the spotlight. If you found the reporting above valuable, please consider making a donation to support ithere. 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.. Some friends suggested that she post the video on TikTok to call attention to leaking wells in West Texas, according to the paper. 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. After college, Christian found success in the music industry with his country/gospel band, the Mercy River Boys and went on to be finalist for a Grammy Award in 1979. On Twitter In 1996, Christian was elected to the House of Representatives as the first Republican elected from Deep East Texas since Reconstruction after the Civil War. The campaign for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission, usually a low-profile affair, is getting more attentionand that's a good thing. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in the March 1 election, the two candidates with the most votes will meet in a May runoff election. 2023 iSideWith.com. (Section 172.022, Texas Election Code). My overall mission is to ensure that Texans have access to cheap, plentiful, and reliable energy., Warford: My background is in mostly the private sector in energy policy and energy consulting. Linda Coffee Argued Roe v. Wade. Unicorns exist, so here I am Im not a politician, I accept no campaign contributions.. Then, on Super Bowl Sunday, another candidate, oil and gas attorney Sarah Stogner, posted a short video on TikTok and Twitter to implore Texans to please vote early. In the video, she rides a pump jack while wearing only a hat, underwear, and pasties. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. v. t. e. The 2022 Florida Chief Financial Officer election was held on November 8, 2022, to elect the Chief Financial Officer of Florida. This statement raises questions about what constitutes civil discourse in todays political landscape and whether such standards are applied equally to candidates. And thats having a huge negative impact on people across the state. Stogner also addressed her revealing ride on the pumpjack I wish I had done it sooner because it helped her stand out and make a runoff, she said and why her campaigns logo is a unicorn. When Stogner announced her endorsement of Warford in late September, she called him not a typical Democrat and pragmatic and pro-business.. The San Antonio Express-News had previously endorsed Stogner, writing that she offers the vision, energy, and tenacity to make real changes at the RRC. But the newspaper withdrew its endorsement on Tuesday, in the wake of her post. 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. Well, hes a career politician and shes got some good ideas, Gaines said. Editors note: This story contains explicit language. Despite its name, the Railroad Commission has not regulated railroads since 2005. Christi Craddick, James Wright and Wayne Christian. Ad Paid for by Wayne Christian for Texas 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. The incumbent calls himself a proven conservative fighter and pledges to not bend the knee to extremist special interest groups who want to halt the production of oil and gas. Stogner says that as a regulator she would make sure bad operators are held accountable, and good operators are recognized so we can keep our oil and gas industry strong for future generations. Finally, theres Democrat Warford, who talks a lot about the failure of the power grid and the role of natural gaswhich the Railroad Commission regulates. But what weve got is a map with no transparency with the commission. The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) is the state agency with primary regulatory jurisdiction over the oil and natural gas industry, pipeline transporters, natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline industry, natural gas utilities, the LP-gas industry, and coal and uranium surface mining operations. RepublicanWayne Christian DemocraticLuke Warford LibertarianJamie Andres Diez GreenHunter Wayne Crow Latest 2022 Railroad Commissioner polls The 2022 Austin mayoral election was held on November 8, 2022 to elect the next mayor of Austin, Texas. Before debating in Paris, the two Republican candidates had barely appeared together since Christian failed to win at least 50% of the March primary vote and ended up in a runoff with Stogner, a first-time candidate who raised her profile on Super Bowl weekend by posting a video of herself nearly naked atop an oil pumpjack. The Campaign to Sabotage Texass Public Schools. Suggest a missing candidate here. Texas Statewide Candidates 2022. Texans will choose between four candidates: Republican incumbent Wayne Christian, Democratic nominee Luke Warford and two third-party candidates Libertarian Jaime Andres Diez and Hunter Wayne Crow of the Green Party. 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. In 1987, after gaining valuable experience in business, banking and real estate, Wayne Christian opened a financial services businesshe is a three time AIG top advisor nationwide. Texas Governor Race; Texas Lieutenant Governor Race 2022; Texas Attorney General Race 2022; Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts; Summers name will still be on the ballot, too, because he died too close to election day to change the ballots. Q: Your opponent Luke Warford has accused you of being corrupt due to campaign contributions you have received from the oil and gas industry. Subscribe with RSS; Powered by people like you. Here's the lineup: Gary Gates, Republican. For years. 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. Devan Markham. https://twitter.com/Sarah4RRC/status/1493041677266829315?v. The things Im talking about are keeping the lights on, lowering utility prices, creating energy jobs, protecting our clean air, making sure people have clean air and clean water, he says. 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. To learn more about ChatGPT and how we can inspire students, we sat down with BestReviews book expert, Ciera Pasturel. He and the woman filming the video were invited . To learn more about how election results work, read this article. The two main contenders in this year's race for commissioner are incumbent Republican Wayne Christian and Democrat Luke Warford. The Democrat has a background working in energy consulting and policy. These are the statewide races up for election in the. The Railroad Commission, which got its name in 1891 when it was created to regulate transportation tariffs, generally toils in obscurity. None of that is necessarily illegal, but Houston Chronicle columnist Chris Tomlinson didnt mince words when he wrote this week that Christian demonstrated what at best is a profound disregard for ethics, and at worst, engaged in public corruption. Christian told Texas Monthly via email that the Railroad Commissions general counsel advised him to approve the permit as long as the facility used a modern clay liner, which it did. I didnt realize it would incite the rage and anger that it did from the press, she told the Chronicle. Texas Railroad Commissioner election, 2022 (March 1 Republican primary) Elections in Texas, 2022 Primary date: March 1 Mail-in registration deadline: Jan. 31 Online reg. MENU. The two main contenders in this year's race for commissioner are incumbent Republican Wayne Christian and Democrat Luke Warford. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. Multiple candidates are presently running in the March 1, 2022 Republican Primary to be the next Railroad Commissioner of Texas. Early voting runs May 16-20. by Mitchell Ferman Updated: Sep 26, 2022 / 12:31 PM CDT AUSTIN (KXAN) The Democrat running to unseat the Republican chairman of the Railroad Commission of Texas announced an endorsement Monday from the. But I am, and have I got your attention now? The oil and gas industry and the Railroad Commission have a huge impact on Texans clean air and clean water and the environment.. As your Railroad Commissioner, I bring a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the Bitcoin Energy revolution to educate other oil and gas experts so that Texas becomes the world's leader in cheap and plentiful energy production maximizing our use of existing fields and wells in our great state!I will focus on adopting smart energy-strong policies while maintaining a stable job creation . The chart below shows the historical percentage of voters who have pledged to vote for each candidate in the 2022 Texas Railroad Commissionerelection. deadline: N/A In-person reg. The Railroad Commission of Texas has been called one of the most consequential climate-related offices in the country. Garza and Jaworski will move to a runoff. It was a Hail Mary to energize her campaign. He and Abbott will go head to head in November. No. Incumbent Wayne Christian and oil and gas lawyer Sarah Stogner pitched voters in Paris, Texas, ahead of the May 24 election. 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. Theres this really coherent story of regulatory capture and of special interests having total power and control here, Warford said. Compare the candidates policies, political views, popularity ratings, and latest public opinion polling. Like the other challengers, Stogner has criticized Christian for his lack of experience in the industries the Railroad Commission oversees. I have concern for my grandkids, I believe the good Lord has given us oil gas, and coal as the greatest resource and made Texas the number one supplier of that in history. This is the lone Texas district that is deemed competitive, with a 2020 presidential margin within five points. Religion is something he brings up often on the stump. Rochelle Garza has 44% of the vote, Joe Jaworski has 20%, Lee Merritt is at 19%, Mike Fields 12% and T-Bone Raynor 5%. 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 independent and government findings, he says commission regulators and industry did not mess up during the blackout. Odessa Headlines does not endorse or support any candidate for elected office. He has no oil and gas experience he won on a pro-life platform because thats what primary voters cared about in 2016, Stogner said. Yet, not many people know what it is or what it does.. Please tell me how I am supposed to get the medias attention so I can discuss these important issues, she wrote. She hammered Christian and his fellow commissioners for failing to ensure that the states natural gas pipelines didnt fail during the extended subfreezing weather. I have real oil and gas experience in Texas, unlike Wayne, Slocum said. But this is an opportunity to reaffirm our principles and expectations, the editorial board wrote. I am the only candidate with the endorsements, campaign infrastructure, and resources necessary to win this race.. Comments. Lawmakers havent seemed interested, so Christian said he instead helped spur the agency to change its logo, which now has Leading Texas energy and listing oil and gas, coal and pipelines beneath larger RRC letters. 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. A Right-wing Cabal Took Over Odessas Municipal Government. Stogner, who is not accepting campaign contributions in her first campaign for public office, said she wants to focus on helping the oil and gas industry make more progress as responsible stewards of the states natural resources. david doonan published this page in 2022 Candidates 2022-03-14 10:38:16 -0400. Primary elections were held on March 1, with runoffs held on May 24 for primary candidates who did not receive a majority of the vote. Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke hosts a rally at Fair Park in Dallas after announcing his campaign, on Nov. 21, 2021. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. We have to be educating people on what the oil and gas industry does, she said. Inside the Bro-tastic Party Mansions Upending a Historic Austin Community. Numbers for state candidates cover their last filed report through 10/29/2022. Its name remains problematic, noted Sunset Advisory Commission staff in 2016, in recommending it be rechristened the Texas Energy Resources Commission. 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. All regulations should be based on sound science and not speculation. 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. After Rice-Tims asked about flaring, Stogner said she wanted to ensure that oil production companies are not releasing excessive carbon emissions and polluting the air. Q: Why did you decide to run for election? Five seconds of me scantily clad on top of a pump jack.. 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. Feb. 14 First day of early voting for the primaries. Candidates The following is a list of candidates running for office in the 2022 Texas Railroad Commissioner election. We dont let that hope die, because we know we deserve so much better.. There are still a lot of votes out in rural counties, where Donald Trump performed well in 2020, but it's also worth noting that Senator Bernie Sanders did well in those counties during the Democratic presidential primary. The IOGCC is one of the oldest and largest interstate compacts in the nation, formed over 80 years ago when several states joined together to resolve common issues in the industry without federal intervention. What would be your top three priorities as railroad commissioner? Today, after redistricting to protect Republican seats, there is just one that will be competitive in the general election, the 15th. Were angry that I got half-naked on a pumpjack? In the increasingly blue Harris County, more Republicans voted early (105,482) than Democrats (96,725). Key fact: Applications must be . We dont know who asked to comply, we have no assurances that they actually have complied. But thats boring. Candidates for federal office must file a federal application . Everyday your story is being told by someone. Texas Railroad Commissioner Race Your Vote Counts Ballot Information 2022 General Election Candidates All Democratic Candidates Green Party Candidates Independent Candidates Libertarian Candidates Reform Party Candidates Republican Candidates Wayne Christian Republican Party Incumbent Hunter Wayne Crow Green Party Jaime Andres Diez He was elected statewide as the 12th Texas Agriculture Commissioner in 2014 and re-elected to his second term in office in 2018; followed by a third term in 2022, receiving almost 4.5 million votes--more votes than any candidate for Texas Agricultural Commissioner has ever received. I disagree that were for all. The Express-News switched its endorsement to Dawayne Tipton, a former roughneck from Killeen who worked his way up into management. Hunter Wayne Crow (G) 85,242 1%. I have no personal financial ties to the oil and gas industry.. The filing deadline is now past, and eight Republicans, three Democrats and a Libertarian have said they will run for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission to replace David Porter, who unexpectedly decided not to run for re-election. The three-member commission has jurisdiction over pipelines, natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas, the LP-gas industry and coal and uranium surface mining. Take the political quiz to see which Railroad Commissioner candidates match your politicalbeliefs. The incumbent, Ken Paxton, told supporters that hes preparing for a runoff. 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. AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) - With some well-known state officials, such as State Senator Kel Seliger, not seeking re-election in 2022 and filing open for primary election candidates, the bal Stogner homed in on Christians lack of oil and gas experience compared to her decade as an oil and gas lawyer and what she sees as Christians desire to do whatever the oil and gas industry wants. Still Practicing: Tracking Problem Doctors, Texas Coronavirus Vaccine Rollout Investigations, Sign up for More than the Score Sports newsletter, Best smart home devices for older users, according, How to get started on spring cleaning early, according, Worried about your student using ChatGPT for homework? for a place on the ballot with the county or state party chair, as appropriate (see chart). Disclosure: The University of Houston has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. 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. 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. 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. Texas election rules require that primary candidates receive at least 50 percent of the vote. Last week, Stogner told KENS 5: I want to put my clothes back on and have a serious conversation. But me scantily clad is where the line is drawn, she wrote on Facebook. 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 . Published: Feb. 16, 2022 at 9:12 PM PST ODESSA, Texas (KOSA) - Railroad Commissioner is one of Texas' most important elected offices. Through his years of campaigning, Christian has often urged voters to support the only Christian on the ballot. He says the slogan is a way to get his name out, which is especially useful when running for an obscure political office that most people dont know much about.