Now, Democrats are catching up, Undocumented Motherhood explores family separation, challenges in healthcare access, Democrats and Republicans in Collin County vie for open Texas House District 70 seat, Amazon Prime ups its music game, within limits, Texas Standard for Nov. 3, 2022: Churches arent supposed to endorse candidates but some big Texas churches are, Early voting is underway in Texas: Heres how to vote in the 2022 midterm election, In a Central Texas county, high schoolers are jailed on felony charges for vaping what could be legal hemp, As Texas STAAR test goes fully online, teachers feel defeated, Texas Education Agency projects confidence. Texas Election Information. But taking out Gov. Feb. 11, 2022 Updated: Feb. 15, 2022 12:27 p.m. Facebook Twitter Email. 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. 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 am the only candidate with the endorsements, campaign infrastructure, and resources necessary to win this race.. When you have boobs, you get held to different standards. (A few months after losing the primary, Moutos lost his job as a state assistant attorney general, after he posted tweets that the Texas Tribune described as threatening violence against progressives, spouting racist and transphobic rhetoric, casting doubt over the seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic, and sharingQAnon conspiracy theories.). But this is an opportunity to reaffirm our principles and expectations, the editorial board wrote. We expect candidates for public office to model civil discourse and decorum worthy of the publics trust. But I am, and have I got your attention now? 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. The number of rejected ballots in Harris County alone has surpassed the statewide total during the 2020 general election. Thanks for donating today. The RRC also has oversight over Texas energy industries and enforces related state and federal laws. Were for the good stuff!. Today, after redistricting to protect Republican seats, there is just one that will be competitive in the general election, the 15th. 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 disagree that were for all. Perhaps it goes without saying but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. A service of the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin | Contact us, A service of the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin, problems along the natural gas supply chain, Despite a ban on the practice, many churches use their pulpit to support or oppose political candidates, Republicans have historically embraced small-town Texas. 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. I kind of re-energize campaigns that are now kind of tired.. Rochelle Garza has 44% of the vote, Joe Jaworski has 20%, Lee Merritt is at 19%, Mike Fields 12% and T-Bone Raynor 5%. 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. 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. . 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. 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. 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. Top Three Internal Priorities: 1) Continue to modernize agency to increase efficiencies, speed up permitting, and decrease. Yet, not many people know what it is or what it does.. Fleeing for Your Life? 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. To learn more about how election results work, read this article. 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. Vote 2022 Texas; . Zapata flipped to Donald Trump in 2020. I want to talk about flaring. A Federal Judge in Amarillo Could Effectively Ban the Abortion Pill. 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. Q: What would be your top priorities in another term as railroad commissioner? The Railroad Commission regulates oil and gas operations in the State of Texas. Greg Abbott may be an even greater challenge. Tickets are on sale now for the 2022 Texas Tribune Festival, happening in downtown Austin on Sept. 22-24. Candidates for Texas Railroad Commissioner 6440 Voter Guide My Ballot Recommendations Election Coverage Voting for this election ended Nov 8, 2022. Governor Greg Abbott Bring on the Shiplap. All regulations should be based on sound science and not speculation. I knew it would be controversial. 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. Companies would be more incentivized to do so if we stopped picking winners and losers and subsidizing unreliable forms of energy., Warford: During the winter storm, as electricity supply dropped, we then cut off electricity supply to some of our most critical natural gas producers. deadline: N/A In-person reg. Key fact: Applications must be . And weve been given the moral, I think duty to oversee the proper use of that oil, gas, and coal. Throughout the evening, Christian tried to convince the audience that hes the conservative fighter who will protect the states oil and gas sector even if local governments and the free market are increasingly interested in renewable energy sources. 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. Two candidates will be on the ballot in the May runoff, current Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian and oil & gas attorney Sarah Stogner. 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 Millions of Texans have rare diseases. The Working Families Party sent out a memo noting that its volunteers had knocked on 80,000 doors in the state. The Aransas County Elections & Voter Registration Building, . 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. Summers name will still be on the ballot, too, because he died too close to election day to change the ballots. Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics. 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? Christian, who received generally friendly questions throughout the night, was asked at one point about corruption allegations that surfaced 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. 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. The board members serve staggered, six-year terms. We dont know who asked to comply, we have no assurances that they actually have complied. 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. 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). This is how Im going to communicate to the masses about whats happening out here, because people are visual.. by Mitchell Ferman I understand that submitting my email address allows iSideWith.com to send me important notifications via email. 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 . I have [contaminated] groundwater, he takes $100,000 bribes, Stogner said, referring to leaking pipes in her West Texas area. After losing in the GOP runoff elections, Stogner endorsed Warford for this race. In the last fundraising period, Warford outraised Christian 3:1 and has $318,059 cash on hand compared to Christians $181,412 war chest. 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. Updated: Mar 2, 2023 / 11:20 AM CST. 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 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. What are we angry about? We have radiation in our water. And guess what finally worked? Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Peter Neronha won re-election to a second term. And those buyers are willing to pay more for lower emissions, oil and gas. Incumbent Wayne Christian, a Grammy-nominated gospel singer turned state representative from the small East Texas town of Center, faces four challengers in the March 1 primary. 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. What would be your top three priorities as railroad commissioner? Its name remains problematic, noted Sunset Advisory Commission staff in 2016, in recommending it be rechristened the Texas Energy Resources Commission. 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. The two main contenders in this years race for commissioner are incumbent Republican Wayne Christian and Democrat Luke Warford. RAILROAD COMMISSIONER. The 2022 Texas elections were held on November 8, 2022. We expect candidates for public office to model civil discourse and decorum worthy of the publics trust, its editorial board said. Sarah Stogner is one candidate who has . To learn more about ChatGPT and how we can inspire students, we sat down with BestReviews book expert, Ciera Pasturel. Advocates are pushing for legislation to help them. for a place on the ballot with the county or state party chair, as appropriate (see chart). Early voting runs May 16-20. by Mitchell Ferman Its not something that I would personally do or undertake, he told the Chronicle. We report on vital issues from politics to education and are the indispensable authority on the Texas scene, covering everything from music to cultural events with insightful recommendations. 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. Though I will not be contesting the outcome of this election, I will not be going away, he said in a statement. All rights reserved. This election is literally one that will have life-and-death consequences. 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 Governor, incumbent Dan Patrick . And You Thought Feral Hogs Were Bad. Texas primaries 2022: Key dates. The incident (in which Christian denied any wrongdoing) was emblematic of a state agency whose elected commissioners are overwhelmingly funded by the industry they regulate, a practice recently documented in a series of reports from the watchdog group Commission Shift. 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. Voter Data is deleted after every. Railroad Commissioner: x-$3,750 -5000: Justice, Supreme Court g: x-$3,750 -5000: 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 Umm, its tough, Hommel said. On Twitter , 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. And its full of great reads, yall. The Railroad Commission of Texas Look Back at a Year of Achievements and Growth for the RRC in 2022 Year in Review Publication Christi Craddick Chairman Wayne Christian Commissioner Jim Wright Commissioner Recent Announcement RRC Online General Maintenance Sunday February 24, 2023 Read More Announcements Railroad Commission of Texas Q: Do you think more needs to be done to regulate natural gas facilities when it comes to weatherization? Multiple candidates are presently running in the March 1, 2022 Republican Primary to be the next Railroad Commissioner of Texas. . Christian, who is seeking a second term, said he believes his experience and perspective will still benefit the state and wants to make sure Texans have access to cheap, plentiful and reliable energy.. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. 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. Nashvilles Best Hotel Selection, Copyright 2019-2022 TXElection.com | Eatmon Media. Editors note: This story contains explicit language. RepublicanWayne Christian DemocraticLuke Warford LibertarianJamie Andres Diez GreenHunter Wayne Crow Latest 2022 Railroad Commissioner polls 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. Three days later, the group headquartered in Center that was behind the dump gave Christian a $100,000 campaign contribution. 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. 2022 Texas Elections, Candidates, Races and Voting, Book Your Fall or Winter Vacation Now and Save! Three is protecting our air and our water. Greg Abbott, both facing challenges from the right, said parents who helped children get treatments could be pursued for child abuse. Sarah will make sure Texas operators can utilize the latest technology to tackle the toughest operational hurdles. Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian, the incumbent, did not receive 50% of the vote. It is bull crap that were a year in and there has been no major progress on winterization, he told me. I need to get peoples attention, right? Stogner said in an interview, adding that she didnt want to do that in a pornographic way. The campaign for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission, usually a low-profile affair, is getting more attentionand that's a good thing. By Russell Gold February 17, 2022 11 Incumbent. I want to talk about winterizing our infrastructure pipelines. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. Texas Railroad Commissioner Qualifications: What training, experience and background qualify you for this position? 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. The crew, in town to film a documentary about an unplugged oil well spewing contaminated fluids, was sharing beers with Stogner when one of the videographers said they always wanted to do an artistic photo shoot on a pumpjack, Stogner recalled. And for them, its totally reasonable to require them to weatherize and thats where I would focus as a commissioner.. Another candidate, Marvin Sarge Summers, died earlier this month on the campaign trail after crashing into a tanker truck in Midland. And here we are, its working, she said, listing various news stories about her campaign since the video went public. *Incumbent. Incumbent Wayne Christian and oil and gas lawyer Sarah Stogner pitched voters in Paris, Texas, ahead of the May 24 election. 2023 iSideWith.com. Leave them blank to get signed up. If you found the reporting above valuable, please consider making a donation to support ithere. Thats because the agency does not regulate railroads; it regulates oil and gas in the state. I didnt realize it would incite the rage and anger that it did from the press, she told the Chronicle. The campaign for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission, usually a low-profile affair, is getting more attentionand thats a good thing. 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. Christi Craddick, James Wright and Wayne Christian. Providence. 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. There was one campaign in particular she wanted to talk about. 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. 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. Well, hes a career politician and shes got some good ideas, Gaines said. No. Texas election rules require that primary candidates receive at least 50 percent of the vote. Texas Railroad Commissioner Primary Election Results Republican Primary Runoff Wayne Christian and Sarah Stogner have advanced to a runoff. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. Gulf of Mexico warming at faster rate than global ocean, study finds, At these old-school restaurants in Texas, you feel like its an extension of your home, Greg Abbott says if these corporate tax breaks return, renewable energy should be excluded. The three-member commission has jurisdiction over pipelines, natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas, the LP-gas industry and coal and uranium surface mining. When he ran for the Senate four years ago, Democrat Beto ORourke won just 61 percent in the primary. 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. Neither Christian nor a second GOP challenger, Tom Slocum, has responded to requests for comment by the Chronicle. Democrat Attorney General candidates are in the same boat. 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.. But thats boring. This will be hilarious. 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. Greg Abbott, issued a statement all but conceding, and seeking credit for forcing the governor to the right on issues. Targeting transgender people to rally conservatives is a Texas tradition since a 2015 bathroom bill in Houston. Just for our own fun. Commissioners are elected to six-year staggered terms, with one commissioner being up for election every two years, according to Ballotpedia . In the race for Republican Lt. This was neither, it added. Christian was the top choice of 9% of registered voters in that poll, with the other candidates receiving between 3% and 5%. 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. 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. And, if all thats not enough to draw your interest, the race has taken three unexpected turns during the past couple of weeksinvolving death, alleged corruption, and barely covered breasts. (The Sunset Commission chose not to adopt the suggestion.). The Campaign to Sabotage Texass Public Schools. The Railroad Commission staff recommended against the proposal, but Christian voted in favor of it. A lifelong conservative businessman, Wayne Christian was elected as our 50 th Texas Railroad Commissioner in November 2016.. I want to talk about groundwater. They like what I do with oil and gas in Texas, Christian said. And right now, Texas oil and gas has a reputation as not being particularly clean, because the Texas Railroad Commission doesnt enforce the rules, doesnt hold that actors accountable.. The 2022 Austin mayoral election was held on November 8, 2022 to elect the next mayor of Austin, Texas. In the increasingly blue Harris County, more Republicans voted early (105,482) than Democrats (96,725). 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. No candidate is above 30 percent at the moment; Ruben Ramirez leads with 28 percent. 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. 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. The race is wide open, according to a recent University of Houston survey. 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. Feb. 14 First day of early voting for the primaries. Christian avoided talking about the power grid and last years winter freeze, even when asked by Rice-Tims about the future of the grid. 2022 Texas Elections, Candidates, Races and Voting. Christian is a former gospel singer turned financial adviser turned longtime Texas politician. The following is a list of candidates running for office in the 2022 Texas Railroad Commissionerelection.