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Wayne Christian (Texas state executive)

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Wayne Christian
Image of Wayne Christian

Republican Party

Texas Railroad Commission
Tenure

2017 - Present

Term ends

2029

Years in position

8

Predecessor
Prior offices
Texas House of Representatives District 9
Successor: Chris Paddie

Compensation

Base salary

$140,937

Elections and appointments
Last elected

November 8, 2022

Education

Bachelor's

Stephen F. Austin University, 1973

Personal
Religion
Christian: Baptist
Profession
Business owner
Contact

Official website

Official Facebook

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Personal Facebook

Personal YouTube

Personal LinkedIn

Wayne Christian (Republican Party) is a member of the Texas Railroad Commission. He assumed office on January 1, 2017. His current term ends on January 1, 2029.

Christian (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Texas Railroad Commission. He won in the general election on November 8, 2022.

Christian was also a former Republican candidate for Texas Railroad Commission in the 2014 elections and a former Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives, representing District 9 from 1997-2013.

First elected to the House in 1996, Christian is a prominent conservative in Texas politics and is president of the Texas Conservative Coalition[1]. He was vice chairman of the House Committee on Financial Institutions and a member of the Calendars Committee, the Human Services Committee and the House Rural Caucus.[2]

Biography

Christian owns an investment company and is a registered representative of Sun America Securities Inc. of Center, Texas. The representative was born in Center, raised in nearby Tenaha, Texas, and now lives in Center.[3]

He is a 1973 graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, where he received a bachelor's degree in business and minored in marketing. The university is in Christian's state House district, and his official online biography highlights his efforts in passing a bill to allow the university to renovate its student center.[4]

Political career

Texas Railroad Commission (2017-present)

Christian won election to the Texas Railroad Commission on November 8, 2016. He was sworn into office on January 9, 2017.[5]

Texas House of Representatives (1997-2013)

Christian represented District 9 of the Texas House of Representatives from 1997 to 2013.

Elections

2022

See also: Texas Railroad Commissioner election, 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
✔
Image of Wayne Christian
Wayne Christian (R)
 
55.4
 
4,401,187
Image of Luke Warford
Luke Warford (D) Candidate Connection
 
40.5
 
3,222,305
Image of Jaime Díez
Jaime Díez (L) Candidate Connection
 
3.0
 
239,489
Image of Hunter Crow
Hunter Crow (G) Candidate Connection
 
1.1
 
85,570

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 7,948,551
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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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
✔
Image of Wayne Christian
Wayne Christian
 
65.0
 
574,573
Image of Sarah Stogner
Sarah Stogner Candidate Connection
 
35.0
 
308,859

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 883,432
Candidate Connection = 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.

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
✔
Image of Luke Warford
Luke Warford Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
916,650

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 916,650
Candidate Connection = 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.

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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
✔
Image of Wayne Christian
Wayne Christian
 
47.4
 
775,679
✔
Image of Sarah Stogner
Sarah Stogner Candidate Connection
 
15.0
 
244,949
Image of Tom Slocum Jr.
Tom Slocum Jr. Candidate Connection
 
14.3
 
234,439
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Marvin Summers Candidate Connection
 
11.9
 
194,099
Image of Dawayne Tipton
Dawayne Tipton Candidate Connection
 
11.5
 
188,428

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 1,637,594
Candidate Connection = 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.

Green convention

Green convention for Texas Railroad Commission

Hunter Crow advanced from the Green convention for Texas Railroad Commission on April 9, 2022.

Candidate
✔
Image of Hunter Crow
Hunter Crow (G) Candidate Connection

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Candidate Connection = 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.

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for Texas Railroad Commission

Jaime Díez advanced from the Libertarian convention for Texas Railroad Commission on April 10, 2022.

Candidate
✔
Image of Jaime Díez
Jaime Díez (L) Candidate Connection

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Candidate Connection = 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.

Campaign finance

2016

See also: Texas Railroad Commission election, 2016

Christian filed to run as a Republican candidate in the 2016 election for Texas Railroad Commission. He came in second in the primary election and, according to Texas law, proceeded to a runoff election as no candidate received a majority of the vote in the first primary. Christian defeated Gary Gates in the runoff election.

Wayne Christian defeated Grady Yarbrough, Mark Miller, and Martina Salinas in the Texas railroad commission election.

Texas Railroad Commission, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png 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
Green check mark transparent.pngGary Gates 28.4% 586,846
Green check mark transparent.pngWayne 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.
Runoff primary election
Texas Railroad Commission, 2016
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngWayne Christian 51.1% 192,217
Gary Gates 48.9% 184,170
Total Votes 376,387
Election results via Texas Secretary of State.

2014

See also: Texas down ballot state executive elections, 2014

Christian ran for election to the office of Texas Railroad Commission. Christian came in first for the Republican nomination in the primary on March 4 and lost to Ryan Sitton in a runoff on May 27.[6] The general election took place on November 4, 2014.

  • Primary
Texas Railroad Commissioner Republican Primary, 2014
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngWayne Christian 42.7% 503,634
Green check mark transparent.pngRyan Sitton 30.5% 360,125
Becky Berger 16.8% 198,672
Malachi Boyuls 10% 117,511
Total Votes 1,179,942
Election results via Texas Secretary of State.
  • Runoff
Texas Railroad Commissioner Republican Primary Runoff, 2014
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngRyan Sitton 57.3% 400,259
Wayne Christian 42.7% 298,659
Total Votes 698,918
Election results via Texas Secretary of State. Vote totals above are unofficial and reflect 98 precincts reporting.

Endorsements

  • Texas Right to Life PAC[7]

2012

See also: Texas House of Representatives elections, 2012

Christian ran in the 2012 election for Texas House of Representatives, District 9. Christian was defeated by Chris Paddie in the May 29 primary election.[8][9][10]

Texas House of Representatives District 9 Republican Primary, 2012
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngChris Paddie 52.2% 9,335
Wayne Christian Incumbent 47.8% 8,558
Total Votes 17,893

2010

See also: Texas House of Representatives elections, 2010

Christian won re-election to the 9th District seat in 2010. He had no opposition in the March 2nd primary. He defeated Democrat Kenneth Franks in the general election on November 2, 2010.[11]

Texas House of Representatives, District 9
2010 General election results
Candidates Votes Percent
Green check mark transparent.png Wayne Christian (R) 23,754 72.15%
Kenneth Franks (D) 9,169 27.84%

2008

On November 4, 2008, Christian won re-election to the Texas House of Representatives from Texas' 9th District, defeating Kenneth Franks (D) and Joe Allport (L).[12]


Christian raised $193,267 for his campaign; Franks raised $4,355.[13]

Texas House of Representatives, District 9
Candidates Votes Percent
Green check mark transparent.png Wayne Christian (R) 32,704 62.75%
Kenneth Franks (D) 18,448 35.39%
Joe Allport (L) 961 1.84%

2006

On November 4, 2006, Christian won election to the Texas House of Representatives, District 9, unopposed.[14]

Christian raised $548,734 for his campaign.[15]

Texas State House of Representatives, District 9 (2006)
Candidates Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Wayne Christian (R) 20,838

2004

In 2004, Christian ran for the Republican nomination to represent District 1 in the United States House of Representatives. He lost the March 3 primary election to Louis Gohmert.

2002

On November 4, 2002, Christian won re-election to the Texas House of Representatives from Texas' 9th District, defeating Robin Moore (D).[16]


Christian raised $232,533 for his campaign; Moore raised $272,578.[17]

Texas House of Representatives, District 9
Candidates Votes Percent
Green check mark transparent.png Wayne Christian (R) 17,823
Robin Moore (D) 14,651

2000

On November 4, 2000, Christian won re-election to the Texas House of Representatives from Texas' 9th District, defeating Joseph Evans (D).[18]


Christian raised $287,502 for his campaign; Evans raised $179,073.[19]

Texas House of Representatives, District 9
Candidates Votes Percent
Green check mark transparent.png Wayne Christian (R) 24,625
Joe Evans (D) 19,817

1998

On November 4, 1998, Christian won re-election to the Texas House of Representatives from Texas' 9th District, defeating Colin Strother (D).[20]


Christian raised $312,349 for his campaign; Strother raised $62,422.[21]

Texas House of Representatives, District 9
Candidates Votes Percent
Green check mark transparent.png Wayne Christian (R) 16,646
Colin Strother (D) 12,781

1996

On November 4, 1996, Christian won election to the Texas House of Representatives from Texas' 9th District, defeating Judy McDonald (D).[22]


Texas House of Representatives, District 9
Candidates Votes Percent
Green check mark transparent.png Wayne Christian (R) 20,979
Judy McDonald (D) 20,549

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Wayne Christian did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2016

Christian's website included the following campaign themes:[23]

Job Creation: Low Taxes and Commonsense Regulation

  • Excerpt: "I have consistently fought for lower taxes on the individual and on job producing industries most important to East Texas, such as energy and agriculture."

Fighting for the Right to Life

  • Excerpt: "I am unabashed in my stance for life and will continue to work hard to make sure that we limit the heinous practice of abortion as much as we can in our state, and I pledge to continue to seek and take away any tax dollars going towards or supporting abortion in our state."

Honoring the 2nd Amendment and Gun Rights

  • Excerpt: "I have always and will continue to oppose any measure introduced in the Texas House which would restrict our Constitutional right to bear arms, and I will fully support legislation aimed at empowering law-abiding Texans to own, use, and enjoy firearms."

Protecting Private Property Rights

  • Excerpt: "I have introduced legislation several times to end property taxes and find a more equitable solution to school finance. I do not believe that property owners should shoulder the tax burden for our schools alone"

Standing Against Illegal Immigration

  • Excerpt: "I have coauthored legislation to make English the official language of our state, mandate the verification of an arrested person’s immigration status before they are released, require state agencies to study and report the effect of illegal immigration on their annual costs, issue driver’s licenses only to people who are lawfully allowed to work in this country, and repeal “in-state” tuition rates at our colleges and universities for illegal immigrants."

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Wayne Christian campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2022Texas Railroad CommissionWon general$2,472,349 $2,362,628
2014Texas Railroad CommissionerWon $307,260 N/A**
2012Texas House District 099Won $261,758 N/A**
2010Texas House District 009Won $143,562 N/A**
2008Texas House District 009Won $190,414 N/A**
2006Texas House District 009Won $546,257 N/A**
2002Texas House District 009Won $232,533 N/A**
2000Texas House District 009Won $287,502 N/A**
1998Texas House District 009Won $312,349 N/A**
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Noteworthy events

Christian was one of several Texas lawmakers named in the 2005 indictment of Tom Delay, then U.S. House majority leader, in the case that would eventually lead Delay to leave Congress. The indictment alleged no wrongdoing on Christian's part, but said he was one of several legislators to receive money in the 2002 election cycle from the Texas Association of Businesses, whom authorities alleged had illegally funneled corporate money to Republican candidates.[24]

Christian also had ties to John Colyandro, who was indicted along with Delay and who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge in the case in 2008. Colyandro is a former executive director of the Texas Conservative Coalition and a former officer of Delay's now-defunct Americans for a Republican Majority, a political action committee that gave $2,500 to Christian's campaigns.[25]

Christian sponsored a bill in the Texas House in 2009 that would have stripped the authority of the Travis County, Texas, district attorney to prosecute public corruption cases throughout Texas, a move that would have prevented the Austin-based DA from prosecuting politicians outside Austin, including Delay. The bill died.[26]

Christian also received criticism in 2009 after the Houston Chronicle reported that he had helped craft an amendment allowing him to rebuild his vacation home on Bolivar Peninsula, near Galveston, after it was demolished by Hurricane Ike. The reconstruction would otherwise have been prevented by state law banning construction on Texas beaches.[27]

In an interview with the newspaper, Christian defended the move and denied it was a conflict of interest, saying, "If I were to pass a law that affected only Wayne Christian, that would be a conflict." The amendment in question, which affects only properties on the Bolivar Peninsula and was co-authored with state Rep. Mike Hamilton, would also help at least 12 of his neighbors rebuild their homes, Christian said.[28]

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Christian is married to the former Lisa Lemoine of Shelbyville, Texas; they wed in 1975. They have three daughters, Liza, Lindsey and Lauren.[29]

A Southern Baptist, he is a member of the Christian Coalition, Promise Keepers and Gideons International.[30]

State legislative tenure

  • HB 425 - Relating to a prohibition against changing the name of certain public institutions of higher education that are named after state historical figures.
  • HB 830 - Relating to drug testing of certain persons seeking or receiving financial assistance benefits.
  • HB 1320 - Relating to creating an offense for engaging in certain conduct relating to cockfighting and to the criminal and civil consequences of committing that offense.
  • HB 1400 - Relating to the creation of a public integrity unit in the office of the attorney general to prosecute offenses against public administration, including ethics offenses, and offenses involving insurance fraud.[31]

Committee assignments

2011-2012

Wayne Christian served on the following Texas House of Representatives committees:

2009-2010

See also

2022 Elections

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External links

Candidate

Texas Railroad Commission
  • Website
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    Officeholder

    Texas Railroad Commission
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    Personal

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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Texas House of Representatives Web site, Member Wayne Christian, June 13, 2009 (dead link)
    2. ↑ Texas House of Representatives Web site, Member Wayne Christian, June 13, 2009 (dead link)
    3. ↑ Texas House of Representatives Web site, Member Wayne Christian, June 13, 2009 (dead link)
    4. ↑ Texas House of Representatives Web site, Member Wayne Christian, June 13, 2009 (dead link)
    5. ↑ Facebook, "Wayne Christian," accessed January 2, 2017
    6. ↑ Panola Watchman, "Wayne Christian to run for Texas Railroad Commission," September 13, 2013
    7. ↑ Texas Right to Life, "Texas Right to Life begins 2014 endorsement process," November 4, 2013
    8. ↑ Texas GOP list of candidates for 2012 Elections
    9. ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "1992 - Current Election History," accessed February 17, 2014
    10. ↑ Office of the (Texas) Secretary of State, "Race Summary Report," accessed July 12, 2012
    11. ↑ Official Texas Election Results
    12. ↑ 2008 Election Results, Texas House of Representatives
    13. ↑ District 9 Texas House candidate funds, 2008
    14. ↑ 2006 Election Results, Texas House of Representatives
    15. ↑ 2006 Texas Election Fundraising, Candidates
    16. ↑ 2002 Election Results, Texas House of Representatives
    17. ↑ District 9 Texas House candidate funds, 2000
    18. ↑ 2000 Election Results, Texas House of Representatives
    19. ↑ District 9 Texas House candidate funds, 2000
    20. ↑ 1998 Election Results, Texas House of Representatives
    21. ↑ District 9 Texas House candidate funds, 1998
    22. ↑ 1996 Election Results, Texas House of Representatives
    23. ↑ texansforwaynechristian.com - Issues
    24. ↑ GOP lawmakers aim to weaken Travis County DA's office, Texas Watchdog, April 27, 2009
    25. ↑ GOP lawmakers aim to weaken Travis County DA's office, Texas Watchdog, April 27, 2009
    26. ↑ GOP lawmakers aim to weaken Travis County DA's office, Texas Watchdog, April 27, 2009
    27. ↑ "Battle for a beach," Houston Chronicle, June 3, 2009
    28. ↑ "Battle for a beach," Houston Chronicle, June 3, 2009
    29. ↑ Texas House of Representatives Web site, Member Wayne Christian, June 13, 2009 (dead link)
    30. ↑ Texas House of Representatives Web site, Member Wayne Christian, June 13, 2009 (dead link)
    31. ↑ Texas Legislature - Bills Authored/Joint Authored by Rep. Christian

    Political offices
    Preceded by
    David Porter (R)     		Texas Railroad Commission
    2017-Present    		 Succeeded by
    -
    Preceded by
    -     		Texas House of Representatives District 9
    1997-2013    		 Succeeded by
    Chris Paddie (R)
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