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Texas Railroad Commission
Texas Railroad Commission | |
General information | |
Office Type: | Partisan |
Office website: | Official Link |
Compensation: | $140,937 |
2025 FY Budget: | $237,152,107 |
Total Seats: | 3 |
Term limits: | None |
Structure | |
Length of term: | 6 years |
Authority: | Texas Natural Resource Code, Title 3, Chapter 81 |
Selection Method: | Elected |
Current Officeholder(s) | |
Wayne Christian, Christi Craddick, James Wright | |
Elections | |
Next election: | 2026 |
Last election: | 2024 |
Other Texas Executive Offices | |
Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Comptroller • Auditor • Education Commissioner • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Land Commissioner • Workforce Commission • Public Utility Commission • Railroad Commission |
The Texas Railroad Commission is a state executive agency in the Texas state government. Despite its name, the commission does not regulate railroads, but instead regulates the oil and gas business in Texas.[1]
Historically, the railroad commission has been a very powerful office. OPEC, the Middle Eastern oil cartel, was originally modeled in part on the commission. According to the Texas Tribune, the agency has also been a launching pad to higher office.[1]
Current officeholders
Office | Name | Party |
---|---|---|
Texas Railroad Commission | Wayne Christian | Republican |
Texas Railroad Commission | Christi Craddick | Republican |
Texas Railroad Commission | James Wright | Republican |
Authority
The commission's authority is established by the Texas Natural Resource Code.[2]
Texas Natural Resource Code, Title 3. Chapter 81, Subchapter C, Section 81.051
JURISDICTION OF COMMISSION. (a) The commission has jurisdiction over all:
(1) common carrier pipelines defined in Section 111.002 of this code in Texas; (2) oil and gas wells in Texas; (3) persons owning or operating pipelines in Texas; and (4) persons owning or engaged in drilling or operating oil or gas wells in Texas. |
Qualifications
Qualifications for being a commissioner are outlined in the Texas Natural Resource Code.[2]
To serve on the Texas Railroad Commission a person must be:[2]
- a qualified voter under the constitution and laws; and
- at least 25 years of age.
Elections
Commissioners are elected to six-year staggered terms with one commissioner up for election every two years.[2]
2024
General election
General election for Texas Railroad Commission
Incumbent Christi Craddick defeated Katherine Culbert, Eddie Espinoza, Hawk Dunlap, and Richard McKibbin in the general election for Texas Railroad Commission on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Christi Craddick (R) | 55.6 | 6,100,218 |
![]() | Katherine Culbert (D) ![]() | 39.0 | 4,275,904 | |
![]() | Eddie Espinoza (G) ![]() | 2.8 | 301,793 | |
![]() | Hawk Dunlap (L) | 2.6 | 285,544 | |
![]() | Richard McKibbin (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 1,656 |
Total votes: 10,965,115 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Texas Railroad Commission
Katherine Culbert defeated Bill Burch in the Democratic primary for Texas Railroad Commission on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Katherine Culbert ![]() | 67.6 | 615,965 |
![]() | Bill Burch ![]() | 32.4 | 294,628 |
Total votes: 910,593 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Texas Railroad Commission
Incumbent Christi Craddick defeated James Matlock, Christie Clark, Corey Howell, and Petra Reyes in the Republican primary for Texas Railroad Commission on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Christi Craddick | 50.4 | 982,457 |
![]() | James Matlock | 26.6 | 517,624 | |
![]() | Christie Clark ![]() | 11.7 | 228,395 | |
Corey Howell | 6.3 | 122,802 | ||
![]() | Petra Reyes | 5.0 | 97,280 |
Total votes: 1,948,558 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Chris Corner (R)
Green convention
Green convention for Texas Railroad Commission
Eddie Espinoza advanced from the Green convention for Texas Railroad Commission on April 13, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Eddie Espinoza (G) ![]() | 100.0 | 51 |
Total votes: 51 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for Texas Railroad Commission
Hawk Dunlap defeated Chris Fuller in the Libertarian convention for Texas Railroad Commission on April 14, 2024.
Candidate | ||
✔ | ![]() | Hawk Dunlap (L) |
Chris Fuller (L) |
![]() | ||||
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2022
General election
General election for Texas Railroad Commission
Incumbent Wayne Christian defeated Luke Warford, Jaime Díez, and Hunter Crow in the general election for Texas Railroad Commission on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Wayne Christian (R) | 55.4 | 4,401,187 |
Luke Warford (D) ![]() | 40.5 | 3,222,305 | ||
![]() | Jaime Díez (L) ![]() | 3.0 | 239,489 | |
![]() | Hunter Crow (G) ![]() | 1.1 | 85,570 |
Total votes: 7,948,551 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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Republican primary runoff election
Republican primary runoff for Texas Railroad Commission
Incumbent Wayne Christian defeated Sarah Stogner in the Republican primary runoff for Texas Railroad Commission on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Wayne Christian | 65.0 | 574,573 |
![]() | Sarah Stogner ![]() | 35.0 | 308,859 |
Total votes: 883,432 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Texas Railroad Commission
Luke Warford advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas Railroad Commission on March 1, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Luke Warford ![]() | 100.0 | 916,650 |
Total votes: 916,650 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Texas Railroad Commission
Incumbent Wayne Christian and Sarah Stogner advanced to a runoff. They defeated Tom Slocum Jr., Marvin Summers, and Dawayne Tipton in the Republican primary for Texas Railroad Commission on March 1, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Wayne Christian | 47.4 | 775,679 |
✔ | ![]() | Sarah Stogner ![]() | 15.0 | 244,949 |
![]() | Tom Slocum Jr. ![]() | 14.3 | 234,439 | |
Marvin Summers ![]() | 11.9 | 194,099 | ||
Dawayne Tipton ![]() | 11.5 | 188,428 |
Total votes: 1,637,594 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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Green convention
Green convention for Texas Railroad Commission
Hunter Crow advanced from the Green convention for Texas Railroad Commission on April 9, 2022.
Candidate | ||
✔ | ![]() | Hunter Crow (G) ![]() |
![]() | ||||
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Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for Texas Railroad Commission
Jaime Díez advanced from the Libertarian convention for Texas Railroad Commission on April 10, 2022.
Candidate | ||
✔ | ![]() | Jaime Díez (L) ![]() |
![]() | ||||
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2020
General election candidates
- Chrysta Castañeda (Democratic Party)
- James Wright (Republican Party) ✔
- Katija Gruene (Green Party)
- Matt Sterett (Libertarian Party)
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
Democratic primary runoff candidates
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
Democratic primary candidates
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
Republican primary candidates
- Ryan Sitton (Incumbent)
- James Wright ✔
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
Minor Party convention candidates
Green Party
Libertarian Party
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
Past elections
Vacancies
Vacancies are filled by appointment from the governor. Once appointed, commissioners serve until the next general election at which time they can run to be elected for the remainder of the unexpired term.[6]
Duties
As of January 2021, the stated jurisdiction and duties of the commission were:[7]
“ | 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. The Commission exists under provisions of the Texas Constitution and exercises its statutory responsibilities under state and federal laws for regulation and enforcement of the state’s energy industries. The Commission also has regulatory and enforcement responsibilities under federal law including the Surface Coal Mining Control and Reclamation Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Pipeline Safety Acts, Resource Conservation Recovery Act, and Clean Water Act.[8] | ” |
Divisions
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for information that describes the divisions (if any exist) of a state executive office. That information for the Texas Railroad Commission has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
State budget
- See also: Texas state budget and finances
The budget for the Texas Railroad Commission in Fiscal Year 2025 was $237,152,107.[9]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
2023
According to the Texas Tribune, each railroad commissioner was paid an average of $140,937 in 2023.[10]
2022
According to the Texas Tribune, each railroad commissioner was paid an average of $140,937 in 2022.[11]
2021
According to the Texas Tribune, each railroad commissioner was paid an average of $140,937 in 2021.[12]
2020
According to the Texas Tribune, each railroad commissioner was paid an average of $140,937 in 2020.[13]
Historical officeholders
The following is a list of railroad commissioners since 1891:[14]
List of officeholders from 1891-Present | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Took office | Left office | |||
JOHN H. REAGAN | June 10, 1891 | January 20, 1903 | |||
L.L. FOSTER | June 10, 1891 | April 30, 1895 | |||
W.P. McLEAN | June 10, 1891 | November 20, 1894 | |||
L. J. STOREY | November 21, 1894 | March 28, 1909 | |||
N.A. STEDMAN | May 1, 1895 | January 4, 1897 | |||
ALLISON MAYFIELD | January 5, 1897 | January 23, 1923 | |||
O.B. COLQUITT | January 21, 1903 | January 17, 1911 | |||
WILLIAM D. WILLIAMS | April 28, 1909 | October 1, 1916 | |||
JOHN L. WORTHAM | January 21, 1911 | January 1, 1913 | |||
EARLE B. MAYFIELD | January 2, 1913 | March 1, 1923 | |||
CHARLES H. HURDLESTON | October 10, 1916 | December 31, 1918 | |||
CLARENCE E. GILMORE | January 1, 1919 | January 1, 1929 | |||
N.A. NABORS | March 1, 1923 | January 18, 1925 | |||
WILLIAM W. SPLAWN | March 1, 1923 | August 1, 1924 | |||
C.V. TERRELL | August 15, 1924 | January 1, 1939 | |||
LON A. SMITH | January 29, 1925 | January 1, 1941 | |||
PAT M. NEFF | January 1, 1929 | January 1, 1933 | |||
ERNEST O. THOMPSON | January 1, 1933 | January 8, 1965 | |||
JERRY SADLER | January 1, 1939 | January 1, 1943 | |||
OLIN CULBERSON | January 1, 1941 | June 22, 1961 | |||
BEAUFORD JESTER | January 1, 1943 | January 21, 1947 | |||
WILLIAM J. MURRAY, JR. | January 21, 1947 | April 10, 1963 | |||
BEN RAMSEY | September 18, 1961 | December 31, 1976 | |||
JIM C. LANGDON | May 28, 1963 | December 31, 1977 | |||
BYRON TUNNELL | January 11, 1965 | September 15, 1973 | |||
MACK WALLACE | September 18, 1973 | September 22, 1987 | |||
JON NEWTON | January 10, 1977 | January 3, 1979 | |||
JOHN H. POERNER | January 2, 1978 | January 1, 1981 | |||
JAMES E. (JIM) NUGENT | January 4, 1979 | January 2, 1995 | |||
BUDDY TEMPLE | January 2, 1981 | March 2, 1986 | |||
CLARK JOBE | March 3, 1986 | January 5, 1987 | |||
JOHN SHARP | January 6, 1987 | January 22, 1991 | |||
KENT HANCE | September 23, 1987 | January 2, 1991 | |||
ROBERT KRUEGER | January 3, 1991 | February 10, 1993 | |||
LENA GUERRERO | January 23, 1991 | October 1, 1992 | |||
JIM WALLACE | October 2, 1992 | January 4, 1993 | |||
BARRY WILLIAMSON | January 5, 1993 | January 3, 1999 | |||
MARY SCOTT NABERS | February 10, 1993 | December 9, 1994 | |||
CAROLE KEETON RYLANDER | December 10, 1994 | January 3, 1999 | |||
CHARLES R. MATTHEWS | January 3, 1995 | January 31, 2005 | |||
TONY GARZA | January 4, 1999 | November 18, 2002 | |||
Michael Williams![]() |
January 4, 1999 | March 31, 2011 | |||
VICTOR G. CARRILLO | February 19, 2003 | January 3, 2011 | |||
ELIZABETH AMES JONES | February 9, 2005 | April 12, 2012 | |||
Buddy Garcia![]() |
April 12, 2012 | January 2013 | |||
Barry Smitherman![]() |
July 8, 2011 | January 5, 2015 | |||
David Porter![]() |
January 5, 2011 | January 9, 2017 | |||
Christi Craddick![]() |
January 2013 | Present | |||
Ryan Sitton![]() |
January 5, 2015 | January 4, 2021 | |||
Wayne Christian![]() |
January 9, 2017 | Present | |||
James Wright![]() |
January 4, 2021 | Present |
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Texas Railroad Commission. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information
Main Office:
1701 N. Congress
Austin, Texas 78701
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 12967
Austin, Texas 78711-2967
See also
Texas | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Texas Tribune, "Railroad Commission is a Stop, Not a Destination," June 24, 2013
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Texas Natural Resource Code, "Chapter 81" accessed January 25, 2021
- ↑ CBS Dallas/Fort Worth, "Perry Appoints Garcia To Texas Railroad Commission," April 13, 2012
- ↑ Amarillo Globe News, "Poll: Craddick, Parker lead Railroad Commission races," May 28, 2012
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>
tag; no text was provided for refs namedserve
- ↑ Railroad Commission of Texas, "Commissioners," accessed December 1, 2011
- ↑ Railroad Commission of Texas, "Authority and Jurisdiction," accessed January 25, 2021
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Texas Legislature, "H.B. No. 1 General Appropriations Act," accessed December 6, 2023
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "Railroad Commission - Positions - Commission," accessed January 23, 2025
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "Railroad Commission - Positions - Commission," accessed October 30, 2023
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "Railroad Commission - Positions - Commission," accessed September 28, 2022
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "Railroad Commission - Positions - Commission," accessed January 25, 2021
- ↑ Railroad Commission of Texas, "Railroad Commissioners Past through Present," accessed January 25, 2021