When Stogner announced her endorsement of Warford in late September, she called him not a typical Democrat and pragmatic and pro-business.. Updated Mar. But this is an opportunity to reaffirm our principles and expectations, the editorial board wrote. Ketia Daniel, founder of BHM Cleaning Co., is BestReviews cleaning expert. 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. RAILROAD COMMISSIONER. And we basically have the commission saying, hey, just trust us.'. Sarah Stogner is one candidate who has . david doonan published this page in 2022 Candidates 2022-03-14 10:38:16 -0400. Q for Christian: Why should Texans elect you again? 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. Railroad Commissioners are elected statewide to six-year, staggered terms. Did it help him decide who he will vote for? It has allowed me to engage folks who appreciated my passion and concerns.. Perhaps it goes without saying but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. Its free. https://twitter.com/Sarah4RRC/status/1493041677266829315?v. Although there are four candidates, the race has been focused on Christian and Warford. Its amazing how many people have no clue what a railroad commissioner does, Scott Hommel, chair of the Republican Party of Lamar County, told the audience. Incumbent mayor Steve Adler was term-limited and could not run for re-election. 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 gas and pollutes the environment. Christian avoided talking about the power grid and last years winter freeze, even when asked by Rice-Tims about the future of the grid. Ethics: Since candidates for Railroad Commission often raise money. 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. 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. Stogner, he argued, will over-regulate the oil and gas industry. 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. 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). Candidates for Texas Railroad Commissioner 6440 Voter Guide My Ballot Recommendations Election Coverage Voting for this election ended Nov 8, 2022. Published March 1, 2022. Get Involved Its not something that I would personally do or undertake, he told the Chronicle. We have jurisdiction over intrastate pipelines [that are completely within state borders], which is why you should ask why people died in the freeze, Stogner said. 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. We expect candidates for public office to model civil discourse and decorum worthy of the publics trust, its editorial board said. 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. 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. Railroad Commission candidates offer opposing visions of what will make oil and gas industry 'healthy' | KUT Radio, Austin's NPR Station 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. This will be hilarious. By Russell Gold February 17, 2022 11 Incumbent. 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. . He was driving a Cadillac Escalade that hit the rear of a tanker truck. We dont let that hope die, because we know we deserve so much better.. . 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. Texas Railroad Commissioner Primary Election Results, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/03/01/us/elections/results-texas-railroad-commissioner.html, Edgar Sandoval, reporting from San Antonio, Jennifer Medina, reporting from Laredo, Texas. The board members serve staggered, six-year terms. 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. 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. Are we angry that I looked good on a pumpjack?. Hes a Grammy Award-winning gospel singer. The Working Families Party sent out a memo noting that its volunteers had knocked on 80,000 doors in the state. 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 is the lone Texas district that is deemed competitive, with a 2020 presidential margin within five points. The oil and gas industry and the Railroad Commission have a huge impact on Texans clean air and clean water and the environment.. The oldest state regulatory agency, in charge of how oil and gas are produced and transported, doesnt typically attract much attention at election time. Bring on the Shiplap. Policy-wise, Warford supports renaming the commission so it makes sense to voters, creating a natural gas market monitor to guard against price gouging, increasing the weatherization of gas infrastructure, and reducing greenhouse gas and other emissions from Texas fossil fuel operations. The primary will take place on May 24, with the general . Providence. No candidate is above 30 percent at the moment; Ruben Ramirez leads with 28 percent. For years. 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. 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. This election is literally one that will have life-and-death consequences. I see my fellow politicians saying, Were for all of the above energy! That, I disagree with. Candidates for federal office must file a federal application . To learn more about how election results work, read this article. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. (The Sunset Commission chose not to adopt the suggestion.). Greg Regan, the president of the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department, said he has raised safety . Theres this really coherent story of regulatory capture and of special interests having total power and control here, Warford said. Neither Christian nor a second GOP challenger, Tom Slocum, has responded to requests for comment by the Chronicle. Were for the good stuff!. 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. Texas Governor Race; Texas Lieutenant Governor Race 2022; Texas Attorney General Race 2022; Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts; 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. During his time in the House, Christian was a leader for the conservative renaissance in the State of Texas and successfully assisted in the fight to elect a Republican majority in the Texas Legislature. Email: Wayne@ChristianForTexas.com Phone: (936) 598-8183 204 Houston St. Center, Texas 75935 Pol. 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. The Railroad Commission staff recommended against the proposal, but Christian voted in favor of it. The Railroad Commission of Texas has been called one of the most consequential climate-related offices in the country. I think they are doing the bidding of a very small number of oil and gas executives. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. Chip Gaines Bought Larry McMurtrys Historic Texas Bookstore. Greg Abbott, both facing challenges from the right, said parents who helped children get treatments could be pursued for child abuse. for a place on the ballot with the county or state party chair, as appropriate (see chart). The three-member commission has jurisdiction over pipelines, natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas, the LP-gas industry and coal and uranium surface mining. All regulations should be based on sound science and not speculation. Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. 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. Two is decreasing our utility prices because Texas is the energy capital of the world. The number of rejected ballots in Harris County alone has surpassed the statewide total during the 2020 general election. Stogner, who isnt accepting campaign contributions, cheekily wrote on the post, They said I needed money I have other assets. In an interview with Texas Monthly, and on LinkedIn, Stogner defended her video. The audience broke into its first round of applause of the evening. Q for Warford: What is your response to criticism from your opponent, who is describing you as a left-wing extremist? A Right-wing Cabal Took Over Odessas Municipal Government. So lets put our clothes on and talk about the issues, she added. When he finished, Rice-Tims, Hommel and the audience started asking questions starting with the name thing. 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. 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? 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. To learn more about how election results work, read this article. 2022. Source: Election results and race calls from The Associated Press. In the last fundraising period, Warford outraised Christian 3:1 and has $318,059 cash on hand compared to Christians $181,412 war chest. 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 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. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. 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. Im tired of people telling me things are impossible, she said. Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian, the incumbent, did not receive 50% of the vote. And those buyers are willing to pay more for lower emissions, oil and gas. Statewide Races Governor Current: Greg Abbott (R) TPI: R-54% Background In the 2022 midterm elections, the top race on ballots in Texas will be for governor. 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. 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. Feb. 18 Last day to apply for a ballot by mail for the primaries. 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. Incumbent Wayne Christian and oil and gas lawyer Sarah Stogner pitched voters in Paris, Texas, ahead of the May 24 election. 2022 Election. The RRC also has oversight over Texas energy industries and enforces related state and federal laws. . 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. v. t. e. The 2022 Rhode Island Attorney General election took place on November 8, 2022, to elect the Attorney General of Rhode Island. And I want to change that.. She hammered Christian and his fellow commissioners for failing to ensure that the states natural gas pipelines didnt fail during the extended subfreezing weather. 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. 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. Numbers for state candidates cover their last filed report through 10/29/2022. The third article in the Chronicle's series on Texas elections and politicians examines the three commissioner races Land, Railroad and Agriculture and the State Board of Education . 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. Christian: The Railroad Commission does not regulate electricity, but the best way to ensure reliable energy is to build out more natural gas generation facilities.