The vast majority of those polled, 74%, said they weren't sure who theyd vote for. And weve been given the moral, I think duty to oversee the proper use of that oil, gas, and coal. Feb. 11, 2022 Updated: Feb. 15, 2022 12:27 p.m. Facebook Twitter Email. The campaign for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission, usually a low-profile affair, is getting more attentionand that's a good thing. 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. Chip Gaines Bought Larry McMurtrys Historic Texas Bookstore. A lifelong conservative businessman, Wayne Christian was elected as our 50thTexas Railroad Commissioner in November 2016. Jos R. Ralat is Texas Monthlys taco editor, writing about tacos and Mexican food. Perhaps it goes without saying but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. 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. . Texas Election Results: GOP candidates keep . 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. Fleeing for Your Life? https://twitter.com/Sarah4RRC/status/1493041677266829315?v. Thanks for donating today. Feb. 23, 202212 PM Central. Republican candidate for Texas Railroad Commissioner Sarah Stogner posted a video last week that is raising eyebrows as voters head to the polls. Greg Abbott, both facing challenges from the right, said parents who helped children get treatments could be pursued for child abuse. 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. Railroad Commissioner (Rep) . We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you found the reporting above valuable, please consider making a donation to support ithere. Zapata flipped to Donald Trump in 2020. 2022 Texas Elections, Candidates, Races and Voting, Book Your Fall or Winter Vacation Now and Save! Do you value our journalism? 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. I feel like Im using my platform well, she told KUT after giving remarks to the group of residents, activists and Democratic politicians. During the campaign, Christian who has a big advantage over his opponent in party endorsements and campaign cash to spend has accused Stogner of being pro-abortion, anti-gun and in favor of sexualized content in schools. His campaign has released some of Stogners old tweets, including one that said men shouldnt legislate what decisions women can make about their own bodies (Stay out of my uterus please) and another that questioned the point of legislation aimed at banning critical race theory in Texas schools (But I sure as hell know we need to be teach[ing] kid[s] the reality of slavery and discrimination that still exists). No. 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. There is no office that is more corrupt than the Texas Railroad Commission, Warford says. 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. Stogners seminude stunt is only the latest twist in what has become the strangest Republican primary campaign for Railroad Commission in decades. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Texas mom stabs her five children, killing three: cops, Texas ranch of late oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens sells after $80M price cut, Severe weather outbreak produces hurricane-force winds, tornadoes, Cops quit woke Austin in droves, plunging city into crisis: If youre conservative, its a hostile place. I understand that submitting my email address allows iSideWith.com to send me important notifications via email. 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 Texans will choose between four candidates: Republican incumbent Wayne Christian, Democratic. Q: Why did you decide to run for election? 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. 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. Comments. 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. 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. 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.. 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. For Wayne Christian, the good stuff means fossil fuels. We have radiation in our water. Recently, Christians campaign said it would finally drop the slogan after being called bigoted by Warford, who is Jewish. (The Sunset Commission chose not to adopt the suggestion.). 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. 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. 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. West Texans Are Learning What It Means to Live in Bear Country, H-E-Bs True Texas BBQ Restaurant Is Slipping, How Florence ButtNot Her SonLaunched the H-E-B Empire, Jimmy Carters Peanut-and-Egg Taco Made Quite the Impression on San Antonians. Shes punching back, Hommel told a Tribune reporter as Christian spoke. Christian: I have never allowed a political contribution to influence my decisions in elected office. The oldest state regulatory agency, in charge of how oil and gas are produced and transported, doesnt typically attract much attention at election time. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. 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. Railroad Commission candidates offer opposing visions of what will make oil and gas industry 'healthy' | KUT Radio, Austin's NPR Station One November evening in far West Texas, Sarah Stogner decided to strip down to pasties and her underwear, plus boots and a cowboy hat, and climb onto an oil pumpjack while a small film crew watched. In the last fundraising period, Warford outraised Christian 3:1 and has $318,059 cash on hand compared to Christians $181,412 war chest. There was one campaign in particular she wanted to talk about. Ad Paid for by Wayne Christian for Texas 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. But the catchphrase has struck many others as insensitive or anti-Semitic, a critique that came up in 2014 when Christian faced a primary opponent who was Jewish. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Get Involved 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. And for them, its totally reasonable to require them to weatherize and thats where I would focus as a commissioner.. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. He and the woman filming the video were invited . We cant do this at the cost of safe air., Michael Williams, a railroad commissioner from 1999 to 2011 who went on to lead the Texas Education Agency, said in an interview that while Christian is a good friend, Im impressed with Stogner. 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. 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. Five seconds of me scantily clad on top of a pump jack.. Greg Abbott, issued a statement all but conceding, and seeking credit for forcing the governor to the right on issues. Updated: 7:36 AM CST February 16, 2022 TEXAS, USA A candidate for the Texas Railroad Commission is facing backlash for a campaign video showing the Republican wearing pasties atop an. Christian is a former gospel singer turned financial adviser turned longtime Texas politician. Nashvilles Best Hotel Selection, Copyright 2019-2022 TXElection.com | Eatmon Media. Texas Railroad Commissioner Qualifications: What training, experience and background qualify you for this position? 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.