The video starts with the sound of work boots crunching on bone-dry West Texas soil, as a man in red coveralls and a hard hat walks across a field. They like what I do with oil and gas in Texas, Christian said. I have other assets.. Nothing illegal or immoral, he added, before listing all of his industry endorsements. 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. Whats Up With All the Kangaroos on the Loose in Texas? But I am, and have I got your attention now? In Hidalgo County, on the border with Mexico, he won just 50 percent. 100% of Precincts Reporting. In Railroad Commission runoff, GOP candidates court North Texas voters who want them to change agency's confusing name Incumbent Wayne Christian and oil and gas lawyer Sarah Stogner. iSideWith.com is the worlds most popular voting guide for citizens to find information about elections, political parties, candidates, voting districts and popular political issues in their country. Three is protecting our air and our water. Railroad Commission candidates offer opposing visions of what will make oil and gas industry 'healthy' | KUT Radio, Austin's NPR Station 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. He and Abbott will go head to head in November. Incumbent Republican CFO Jimmy Patronis won re-election to a second term. Well, heres my Grammy Award-winning video, Wayne.. Did it help him decide who he will vote for? 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. MENU. Five candidates are presently running in the March 1, 2022 Republican Primary to be the next Railroad Commissioner of Texas. Jessica Cisneros has lost a lot of her early lead, with Representative Henry Cuellar so far taking 60 percent of the vote in Webb County, the 28th Districts largest population base. Fleeing for Your Life? Reporting by Lalena Fisher, J. David Goodman and Alicia Parlapiano; production by Amanda Cordero and Jessica White; editing by Wilson Andrews, Ben Koski and Kenan Davis. Christian said the state Legislature, not the Railroad Commission itself, has the authority to change the agencys name. I have no personal financial ties to the oil and gas industry.. Ahead of these elections, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Gov. For years. This Texas primary race is off the rails. Democrat Attorney General candidates are in the same boat. He and the woman filming the video were invited . On these committees, he had direct oversight of the Railroad Commission and accumulated a strong record of standing for free markets and against burdensome regulations. In the general election, state representative Celia Israel and former . Stogners seminude stunt is only the latest twist in what has become the strangest Republican primary campaign for Railroad Commission in decades. Tickets are on sale now for the 2022 Texas Tribune Festival, happening in downtown Austin on Sept. 22-24. And for them, its totally reasonable to require them to weatherize and thats where I would focus as a commissioner.. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. 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. 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. 2022 Texas Elections, Candidates, Races and Voting. I knew it would be controversial. Commissioners are elected to six-year staggered terms, with one commissioner being up for election every two years, according to Ballotpedia . Meanwhile, the Public Utility Commission of Texas, which regulates power plants, drafted and implemented weatherization rules in October. 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. Earlier this month, the Odessa American broke the story of a landowner lawsuit involving a proposed oil-field waste dump north of Midland. 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. This site maintained by Union Labor The Green Party of . And I thought, oh my God, yes, what if I got naked or almost naked on top of it? Stogner said. Five seconds of me scantily clad on top of a pump jack.. The Working Families Party sent out a memo noting that its volunteers had knocked on 80,000 doors in the state. I see my fellow politicians saying, Were for all of the above energy! That, I disagree with. Ad Paid for by Wayne Christian for Texas The winner will square off in the fall against Democrat Luke Warford, an Austin energy consultant and former strategist with the Texas Democratic Party, who faces no primary opposition. The Chairman is chosen by the Commissioners. 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.. This vitally important election of one of the states top energy regulators will have a significant impact on whether Texass natural gas infrastructure freezes up again and contributes to widespread blackouts, as it did a year ago. 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. Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke hosts a rally at Fair Park in Dallas after announcing his campaign, on Nov. 21, 2021. Then she pivoted to the 2021 winter storm that left millions without power for days and caused hundreds of deaths after a combination of freezing temperatures across the state and skyrocketing demand for energy shut down power plants as well as the natural gas facilities that supply them with fuel. The commission and how theyre enforcing the rules or not enforcing the rules is distorting the market. AUSTIN (Nexstar) Starting Monday when early voting kicks off, Texans will choose who they want as the states next railroad commissioner a race that typically doesnt garner much attention for an office that has nothing to do with railroads and everything to do with oil and gas regulation. Updated: Mar 2, 2023 / 11:20 AM CST. Railroad Commissioner Runoff: Texas Primary Results (R) 8:51 PM EDT, Thu October 13, 2022 CNN projects Wayne Christian will be the Republican nominee for Texas railroad. 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. The number of rejected ballots in Harris County alone has surpassed the statewide total during the 2020 general election. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. Candidates for federal office must file a federal application . Nashvilles Best Hotel Selection, Copyright 2019-2022 TXElection.com | Eatmon Media. This year, he says, his party has a chance. The publicity stunts and mudslinging are a sign of desperation. Ketia Daniel, founder of BHM Cleaning Co., is BestReviews cleaning expert. iSideWith.com may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our affiliate partnerships with retailers. The Railroad Commission of Texas has been called one of the most consequential climate-related offices in the country. By Mose Buchele, KUTNovember 3, 202210:33 amGovernment & Politics, KUT. This election is literally one that will have life-and-death consequences. 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. What is your response to his allegations against you? Linda Coffee Argued Roe v. Wade. We have radiation in our water. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Christian avoided talking about the power grid and last years winter freeze, even when asked by Rice-Tims about the future of the grid. Greg Abbott may be an even greater challenge. Christian will continue to fight to ensure the public is protected from bad actors and that all decisions are consistent and predictable to give a sense of certainty to the thousands of business owners and operators who regularly deal with the Railroad Commission. The climate catastrophists have made a religion of what they do, he said in the same YouTube interview. in General Business in 1973. Millions of Texans have rare diseases. And those buyers are willing to pay more for lower emissions, oil and gas. Christian: I am running for re-election because I feel my experience and perspective can still benefit Texans. Christian was up first and talked about how Texas has exported liquified natural gas to help Europe during its energy crisis following Russias invasion of Ukraine, the importance of oil and gas to the nations economy and how Democrats are trying to abolish the industry in the name of slowing climate change. Christian: I believe Texans should elect me again because Im willing to fight. The two main contenders in this year's race for commissioner are incumbent Republican Wayne Christian and Democrat Luke Warford. 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. Also in the field is Tom Slocum Jr., an engineering consultant from the Houston area, who says he will defend the state against liberal Democrats and their never-ending quest to destroy our oil and gas industry in Texas. Slocums sentiments are similar to those articulated in Christians platform. Stogner, who lives on a ranch in Monahans, west of Odessa, said Christian is a politician bought and controlled by donors. Stogner said she is used to being objectified in the male-dominated industryI understand that when I walk into a room or a space, people dont assume that Im a lawyer or that Im competent on anything to do with oil and gas, she told the paper. And here we are, its working, she said, listing various news stories about her campaign since the video went public. Its daily. So lets put our clothes on and talk about the issues, she added. Stogner told the paper she decided to release the video because the risk seemed worth it as a University of Houston poll showed her only a few points behind Christian, who has been bankrolled by oil and gas interests. Odessa Headlines does not endorse or support any candidate for elected office. Texas primaries 2022: Key dates. The Timess election results pages are produced by Michael Andre, Crystal Arroyo, Aliza Aufrichtig, Matthew Bloch, Andrew Chavez, Nate Cohn, Alastair Coote, Annie Daniel, Tiffany Fehr, Will Houp, Josh Katz, Aaron Krolik, Jasmine C. Lee, Rebecca Lieberman, Bea Malsky, Jaymin Patel, Rachel Shorey, Charlie Smart, Umi Syam, Urvashi Uberoy and Isaac White. 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. Speaking to supporters in Laredo, Jessica Cisneros says Were probably not going to know the full results tonight, but adds that they are holding out hope in the 28th Congressional District race for tonight, tomorrow or May (when there would be a runoff). By Russell Gold February 17, 2022 11 Incumbent. Incumbent Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian, left, and challenger Sarah Stogner speak during a forum in Paris, Texas, on April 26. Get your TribFest tickets by May 31 and save big! He added, My opponents are mudslinging out of desperation because I am the only candidate in this race with the endorsements, campaign infrastructure, and resources necessary to win this race.. George P. Bush appears to be opening up a lead over Eva Guzman in the attorney generals race. 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. 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. Everyday your story is being told by someone. 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. Progressives have gone all in on the Cisneros-Cuellar race. Courtesy / Numbers for state candidates cover their last filed report through 10/29/2022. Do you value our journalism? And weve been given the moral, I think duty to oversee the proper use of that oil, gas, and coal. 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. Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian, the incumbent, did not receive 50% of the vote. A lifelong conservative businessman, Wayne Christian was elected as our 50thTexas Railroad Commissioner in November 2016. (Section 172.022, Texas Election Code). Don Huffines, an ultraconservative challenger to Gov. We dont know who asked to comply, we have no assurances that they actually have complied. Christian is a former gospel singer turned financial adviser turned longtime Texas politician. 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 . Todays primary marks the first statewide test of the new voting law, which has already led to a significant surge in rejections of absentee ballots because of new identification requirements. 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 Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our user agreement and privacy policy. Why Does He Get to Make That Call? The two main contenders in this year's race for commissioner are incumbent Republican Wayne Christian and Democrat Luke Warford. Im tired of people telling me things are impossible, she said. The Aransas County Elections & Voter Registration Building, . Rochelle Garza has 44% of the vote, Joe Jaworski has 20%, Lee Merritt is at 19%, Mike Fields 12% and T-Bone Raynor 5%. The oldest state regulatory agency, in charge of how oil and gas are produced and transported, doesnt typically attract much attention at election time. I didnt realize it would incite the rage and anger that it did from the press, she told the Chronicle. 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. One Commissioner position is on the ballot every two years. What is the least-visited state park in Texas? 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. Theres this really coherent story of regulatory capture and of special interests having total power and control here, Warford said. 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. Just for our own fun. Shes punching back, Hommel told a Tribune reporter as Christian spoke. They still view themselves as the managers of the Texas economy, he says. Hommel, walking between tables in the audience, seemed impressed. The RRC also has oversight over Texas energy industries and enforces related state and federal laws. Texas Election Information. 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. Odessa Headlines does not endorse or support any candidate for elected office. But me scantily clad is where the line is drawn, she wrote on Facebook. And the reason that that happened is because the Railroad Commission hadnt mapped out who the critical producers now the Railroad Commission was directed to create a supply chain map to try to address that problem. I disagree that were for all. Source: Election results and race calls from The Associated Press. For Wayne Christian, the good stuff means fossil fuels. Christian: We have made sure as Senate Bill three allowed, that we work together with PUC, which regulates electricity and ERCOT, weve worked with them to make sure that we are communicating at all times, that there are emergency factors in place, that there are no walls between agencies to protect the public and provide the maximum support during any type of emergency action such as cold or hot., Warford: We need to focus on the producers that are producing the most and are most important for our system. This was neither, it added. In Texas a candidate must have more than 50% of the total votes or the race will go to a runoff between the top two candidates. Students Suffer. Congress seems like an inevitable reality, he told supporters. 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. This statement raises questions about what constitutes civil discourse in todays political landscape and whether such standards are applied equally to candidates. Vote 2022 Texas; . The San Antonio Express-News described the video as disgraceful and pulled its endorsement of Stogner. , 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. Wayne Christian * (Republican) . 2022. Multiple candidates are presently running in the March 1, 2022 Republican Primary to be the next Railroad Commissioner of Texas. But what weve got is a map with no transparency with the commission. Q: What would be your top priorities in another term as railroad commissioner? Greg Abbott, issued a statement all but conceding, and seeking credit for forcing the governor to the right on issues. Summers name will still be on the ballot, too, because he died too close to election day to change the ballots. . FOX 26 Houston. The following is a list of candidates running for office in the 2022 Texas Railroad Commissionerelection. 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. She went on to earn a Bachelor's degree in International Trade and Finance from Louisiana State University, followed by a Juris Doctorate from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center. Sarah will make sure Texas operators can utilize the latest technology to tackle the toughest operational hurdles. In the last fundraising period, Warford outraised Christian 3:1 and has $318,059 cash on hand compared to Christians $181,412 war chest. Government. Updated Mar. Despite the misleading name, theRailroad Commission of Texas (RRC) is the primary state agency responsible for regulating Texas oil and gas industry. Christian was the top choice of 9% of registered voters in that poll, with the other candidates receiving between 3% and 5%. Representative Vicente Gonzalez, a Democrat who narrowly beat a Republican challenger in 2020, has easily avoided a runoff in the 34th, the neighboring Rio Grande Valley district in which hes now running after the lines were redrawn earlier this year. PARIS, Texas Deep in Northeast Texas, near the replica Eiffel Tower topped with a red cowboy hat, Cynthia Rice-Tims decorated tables inside the Celebrate It event hall with household products made from petroleum. Texas Commissioner Of The General Land Office, Texas Commissioner Of Agriculture Race 2022, Judicial And Education Candidates Not Listed (Check Ballot Info), Texas Federal and Statewide Candidates 2022. 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.. To learn more about how election results work, read this article. Editors note: This story contains explicit language. Here's your 2022 midterm election guide for South Texas. Do you value our journalism? When Stogner announced her endorsement of Warford in late September, she called him not a typical Democrat and pragmatic and pro-business.. 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. 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. Show us with your support. The campaign for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission, usually a low-profile affair, is getting more attentionand that's a good thing. A lifelong conservative businessman, Wayne Christian was elected as our 50 th Texas Railroad Commissioner in November 2016.. 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. I have other assets, GOP lawyer Sarah Stogner, 37, said in a tweet of the campaign clip posted to TikTok. And those things just simply arent political., The truth of it is the greatest scam in the history of our nation is this green environmentalism extremism catastrophism, Christian said in a recent interview on a YouTube show called The Crude Truth. Im finding that there are these offices that wield tremendous power when it comes to the climate, she said with a little chuckle, like the Railroad Commission.. The Railroad Commission, which got its name in 1891 when it was created to regulate transportation tariffs, generally toils in obscurity. 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. 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. Greg Regan, the president of the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department, said he has raised safety . Texas Railroad Commissioner Election Results 2022 - The New York Times Advertisement Senate House Uncalled House Races Top Races Governor Needle Ga. Senate Runoff Senator Raphael Warnock. Q for Christian: Why should Texans elect you again? Here's the lineup: Gary Gates, Republican. Irrespective of the length of the unexpired term of the appointee's predecessor, the appointee may . 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, a 71-year-old Grammy-nominated former gospel singer and financial planner who is seeking his second six-year term, is trying to fend off challenges from Slocum, Stogner and Dawayne Tipton, a former oil field roughneck who has worked various oil sector jobs including offshore drilling. 2021 Texas Standard. The incumbent, Railroad Commission Chair Wayne Christian, is facing corruption allegations after he voted against the recommendation of Railroad Commission staff to approve a permit for an oil field waste dump facility, then days later accepted a $100,000 campaign donation from the company that received the permit. 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. It has allowed me to engage folks who appreciated my passion and concerns.. (Christian did not respond to KUTs request for an interview.). Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. 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. Christians financial ties to industry have also come under fire. They said I needed money. It is bull crap that were a year in and there has been no major progress on winterization, he told me. Unicorns exist, so here I am Im not a politician, I accept no campaign contributions.. A video posted by the candidate to social media shows Stogner sitting topless atop an oil pump jack before her logo appears across the screen. Christi Craddick, James Wright and Wayne Christian. And we basically have the commission saying, hey, just trust us.'. Stogner said after being told to sit down, be quiet, you silly little girl her whole life, she went on to start her own law firm and learn to fly planes. 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. v. t. e. The 2022 Rhode Island Attorney General election took place on November 8, 2022, to elect the Attorney General of Rhode Island. Against independent and government findings, he says commission regulators and industry did not mess up during the blackout. 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. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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 Another candidate, Dawayne Tipton, who is endorsed by all three of the states largest papers, said he doesnt fault Stogner.