Texas Railroad Commissioner election, 2022 (March 1 Republican primary)

	2024 → ← 2020
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
	Federal and state primary competitiveness; State executive elections in 2022; Impact of term limits in 2022; State government trifectas; State government triplexes; Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2022
Texas; executive elections
	Governor; Lieutenant Governor; Attorney General; Comptroller; State Board of Education (15 seats); Agriculture Commissioner; Public Lands Commissioner; Railroad Commissioner

Incumbent Wayne Christian and attorney Sarah Stogner advanced from the Republican primary election for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission on March 1, 2022. Christian finished first in the primary with 47% of the vote and Stogner was second with 15%. The runoff election was held on May 24, 2022. Tom Slocum Jr. and Dawayne Tipton also sought the Republican nomination.

Marvin Summers filed as a candidate and died in an automobile accident on February 8, 2022, while traveling from a campaign appearance in Midland, Texas. Because his death was three weeks before the primary election, Summers’ name still appeared on the ballot.^[1]^[2]

Christian was originally elected to the commission in 2016, defeating Grady Yarbrough, 53% to 38%, for an open seat after David Porter did not seek re-election. Christian finished second to Gary Gates in the seven-candidate field in the 2016 Republican primary and defeated Gates in the runoff, 51% to 49%. He also served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1997 to 2013. His website lists endorsements from U.S. Sen Ted Cruz (R) and three members of Texas' delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives. Christian's website describes him as a businessman and says, "Throughout his first term, Christian developed a strong record of fighting against frivolous regulations and standing strong for free markets and American Energy Dominance."^[3] Christian responded to a news report regarding the commission's approval of an oilfield waste repository project in February 2022. Click here for more information.

Stogner said on her campaign website that she has represented landowners, oil service companies, and oil and gas well operators for more than 15 years. She listed her top three priorities as "1. Putting Texans to work to provide clean, reliable, affordable energy; 2. Preventing federal intervention in Texas energy regulation (we can govern ourselves); 3. Helping establish global ESG (environmental, social, and governance) metrics and standards."^[4]Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag

The commission does not regulate the railroad industry, but instead oversees the oil and gas business in Texas. The Railroad Commission has three members who are elected to six-year staggered terms such that one commissioner is up for election every two years.

Slocum's career experience includes working as an oil and gas consultant, the vice president of operations of Artemis Energy, Inc., and the chief compliance officer of Fenix Petroleum Group LLC. Slocum said on his website, "I will focus on adopting smart energy-strong policies while maintaining a stable job creation strategy to support and strengthen our economy through our independent oil, gas, and energy production."^[5]

Tipton's campaign website said he had 18 years of engineering experience in all aspects of the oil and gas industry, including offshore drilling. He said his top priority if elected would be "keeping Texas’s oil & gas industry healthy and independent of job killing regulations. The creation of high paying jobs while doing what is best for Texas families is his main goal. Maximizing the benefits of natural resources for all Texans will ensure a robust Texas economy."^[6]

If any candidate had received more than 50% of the vote in the primary, he or she would have automatically advanced to the Nov. 8 general election.

Tom Slocum Jr. (R), Sarah Stogner (R), and Dawayne Tipton (R) completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Click on a candidate's name to view that candidate's responses.

Click here for coverage of the May 24, 2022, Republican primary runoff.

Candidates and election results

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
	Submit photo	Marvin Summers	11.9	194,099
		Dawayne Tipton	11.5	188,428

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,637,594
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Candidate comparison

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff compiled a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy.^[7]

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Wayne Christian

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: Yes

Political Office:

Texas Railroad Commission (Assumed office: 2017)
Texas House of Representatives (1997-2013)

Biography: Christian received a bachelor's degree in business from Stephen F. Austin University in 1973. He was a member of a country/gospel band that was a finalist for a Grammy Award in 1979. Christian's professional experience includes working in business, banking, and real estate and owning a financial services business.

Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

Christian said on his website that he has a record of fighting against unnecessary regulations and said he "believes all regulations should be consistent, predictable, and based on sound science."

Christian said that during his first term in office he has been "fighting against Biden Administration efforts like the Green New Deal, CLEAN Future Act, and the Paris Climate Agreement."

On his campaign website, Christian said, "A clean environment and a thriving oil and gas industry are not mutually exclusive."

Show sources

Sources: Wayne Christian 2022 campaign website, "About Wayne Christian," accessed March 11, 2022

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Texas Railroad Commission in 2022.

Tom Slocum Jr.

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography: "I come from a long line of strong, Texas conservative family values. As a lifelong Republican I am running to be your Railroad Commissioner so I can fight hard for Texas’ conservative values! I am a Texas Oil & Gas Compliance Consultant by trade. I know the regulations, why we have them, and I know how to make minor tweaks if need be to adjust if needed. There are reasons we have the regulations we have, and we must protect our groundwater and keep the oil and gas moving. You can trust me to lead Texas down the conservative path at the Railroad Commission and help domestic oil and gas in Texas flourish while keeping our operations clean and safe!"

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

Eliminate debt at the Railroad Commission.

Ensure we do not cost taxpayers $3.4B again in another freeze incident!

I have real industry experience in the field and in the office. I know the regulations and I know how to make very small changes if need be. I also understand how to free market can deliver results if unleashed properly.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Texas Railroad Commission in 2022.

Sarah Stogner

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography: "I am an experienced oil and gas attorney focusing on bringing fair, predictable, and effective leadership to the Railroad Commission of Texas. We need to include all stakeholders (including operators, landowners, mineral owners, regulators, and the general public) at the table as we usher in the next era of Texas energy independence."

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

All Texans deserve access to clean, reliable, and affordable energy.

Promote environmental, social, and governance (ESG) efforts across all energy sectors.

Include all stakeholders in long-term planning to protect Texas energy independence.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Texas Railroad Commission in 2022.

Dawayne Tipton

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography: "I have over 18 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. I started out as a floor hand on an oil rig, and with hard work and dedication, I worked my way up to eventually a subject matter expert for a leading oil and gas insurer, mitigating and assessing risk. I want to bring my skills and industry experience to the RRC to put Texas families first. "

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

It's time the RRC has someone with industry experience and knows how the RRC policies affect the industry from the board room to the guys working on the rigs.

I want to put Texas families first. I want to ensure that oil and gas jobs are protected so that future generations can improve their lives the same way I was able to. I will also protect landowner's rights.

It is imperative that Texas energy resources are maximized, and we promote energy independence.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Texas Railroad Commission in 2022.

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Expand all | Collapse all

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Tom-Slocum-Jr.jpg

Tom Slocum Jr. (R)

Eliminate debt at the Railroad Commission.

Ensure we do not cost taxpayers $3.4B again in another freeze incident!

I have real industry experience in the field and in the office. I know the regulations and I know how to make very small changes if need be. I also understand how to free market can deliver results if unleashed properly.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		James Wright (R)	53.0	5,831,263
		Chrysta Castañeda (D)	43.6	4,792,422
		Matt Sterett (L)	2.3	247,659
	Submit photo	Katija Gruene (G)	1.2	129,638

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 11,000,982
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Chrysta Castañeda	62.0	579,698
	Roberto Alonzo	38.0	355,053

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 934,751
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,768,750
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	James Wright	55.3	991,593
	Ryan Sitton	44.7	801,904

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,793,497
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Christi Craddick (R)	53.2	4,376,729
		Roman McAllen (D)	43.9	3,612,130
	Submit photo	Mike Wright (L)	2.9	237,984

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 8,226,843
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Roman McAllen	58.5	535,855
	Chris Spellmon	41.5	380,091

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Chrysta Castañeda	33.8	598,638
✔	Roberto Alonzo	28.7	506,748
	Kelly Stone	21.7	383,453
	Mark Watson	15.8	279,911

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Christi Craddick	75.8	1,036,964
	Weston Martinez	24.2	330,407

Texas Railroad Commission, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Wayne Christian	53.07%	4,648,841
	Democratic	Grady Yarbrough	38.38%	3,362,041
	Libertarian	Mark Miller	5.28%	462,251
	Green	Martina Salinas	3.28%	287,105
Total Votes				8,760,238
Source: Texas Secretary of State

Texas Railroad Commission, 2016
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Gary Gates	28.4%	586,846
Wayne Christian	19.7%	408,056
Ron Hale	14.7%	303,847
Lance Christian	12.1%	250,523
Weston Martinez	10.1%	208,710
Doug Jeffrey	9.3%	192,999
John Greytok	5.7%	117,125
Total Votes		2,068,106
Election results via Texas Secretary of State.

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 915,946
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,367,371
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Demographic data for Texas
	Texas	U.S.
Total population:	27,429,639	316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):	261,232	3,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:	74.9%	73.6%
Black/African American:	11.9%	12.6%
Asian:	4.2%	5.1%
Native American:	0.5%	0.8%
Pacific Islander:	0.1%	0.2%
Two or more:	2.5%	3%
Hispanic/Latino:	38.4%	17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:	81.9%	86.7%
College graduation rate:	27.6%	29.8%
Income
Median household income:	$53,207	$53,889
Persons below poverty level:	19.9%	11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Texas. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

Texas	State Executive Elections	News and Analysis

Texas State Executive Offices Texas State Legislature Texas Courts	2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 Texas elections: 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016	Party control of state government State government trifectas State of the state addresses Partisan composition of governors

	v • e State of Texas Austin (capital)
Elections	What's on my ballot? \| Elections in 2025 \| How to vote \| How to run for office \| Ballot measures
Government	Who represents me? \| U.S. President \| U.S. Congress \| Federal courts \| State executives \| State legislature \| State and local courts \| Counties \| Cities \| School districts \| Public policy

Texas Railroad Commissioner election, 2022 (March 1 Republican primary)

Candidates and election results

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas Railroad Commission

Candidate comparison

Candidate profiles

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Election spending

Campaign finance

Past elections

2020

General election

General election for Texas Railroad Commission

Democratic primary runoff election

Democratic primary runoff for Texas Railroad Commission

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas Railroad Commission

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas Railroad Commission

Green convention

Green convention for Texas Railroad Commission

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for Texas Railroad Commission

2018

General election

General election for Texas Railroad Commission

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas Railroad Commission

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas Railroad Commission

2016

General election

Primary elections

Primary runoff elections

Noteworthy events

Campaign contribution to Christian detailed in lawsuit

Candidate releases topless video on TikTok

State profile

Presidential voting pattern

Pivot Counties (2016)

Pivot Counties (2020)

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

2025 Elections

2026 Elections

2024 Election analysis

Trending

Public Policy

Information for candidates

Get Engaged

Services

Additional analysis

SITE NAVIGATION