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. Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke hosts a rally at Fair Park in Dallas after announcing his campaign, on Nov. 21, 2021. For years. Hommel, walking between tables in the audience, seemed impressed. 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. After Rice-Tims asked about flaring, Stogner said she wanted to ensure that oil production companies are not releasing excessive carbon emissions and polluting the air. Incumbent Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian, left, and challenger Sarah Stogner speak during a forum in Paris, Texas, on April 26. Despite the old-timey-sounding name, a seat on the Railroad Commission of Texas has been called one of the most consequential climate-related offices in the country. Democrat Luke Warford is challenging incumbent Wayne Christian for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission. During the course of the debate, local Republicans would ask the candidates incumbent Railroad Commission Chair Wayne Christian, a 71-year-old former state representative and Grammy-nominated gospel singer, and challenger 37-year-old oil and gas lawyer Sarah Stogner what the state has done to improve the states power grid after last years deadly winter storm, what they plan to do about the practice of burning off natural gas through flaring and how strictly the state should regulate the oil and gas industry. Odessa Headlines does not endorse or support any candidate for elected office. I knew it would be controversial. Jos R. Ralat is Texas Monthlys taco editor, writing about tacos and Mexican food. Todays primary marks the first statewide test of the new voting law, which has already led to a significant surge in rejections of absentee ballots because of new identification requirements. Stogner, who lives on a ranch in Monahans, west of Odessa, said Christian is a politician bought and controlled by donors. 2021 Texas Standard. I kind of re-energize campaigns that are now kind of tired.. Progressives have gone all in on the Cisneros-Cuellar race. * Incumbent. The Aransas County Elections & Voter Registration Building, . Shes punching back, Hommel told a Tribune reporter as Christian spoke. With now more than 95 percent reporting, it appears Monica De La Cruz will avoid a runoff and clinch the Republican nomination for the open seat in the 15th Congressional District. Top Three Internal Priorities: 1) Continue to modernize agency to increase efficiencies, speed up permitting, and decrease. The number of rejected ballots in Harris County alone has surpassed the statewide total during the 2020 general election. And we basically have the commission saying, hey, just trust us.'. 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 . My overall mission is to ensure that Texans have access to cheap, plentiful, and reliable energy., Warford: My background is in mostly the private sector in energy policy and energy consulting. The three-member commission has jurisdiction over pipelines, natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas, the LP-gas industry and coal and uranium surface mining. In 1987, after gaining valuable experience in business, banking and real estate, Wayne Christian opened a financial services businesshe is a three time AIG top advisor nationwide. Devan Markham. Democrat Luke Warford is challenging incumbent Wayne Christian for his seat. All regulations should be based on sound science and not speculation. Christian avoided talking about the power grid and last years winter freeze, even when asked by Rice-Tims about the future of the grid. It was a Hail Mary to energize her campaign. Published: Feb. 16, 2022 at 9:12 PM PST ODESSA, Texas (KOSA) - Railroad Commissioner is one of Texas' most important elected offices. Q: Your opponent Luke Warford has accused you of being corrupt due to campaign contributions you have received from the oil and gas industry. They said I needed money. 100% of Precincts Reporting. Stogner said she is used to being objectified in the male-dominated industryI understand that when I walk into a room or a space, people dont assume that Im a lawyer or that Im competent on anything to do with oil and gas, she told the paper. Texas Railroad Commissioner Election Results 2022 - The New York Times Advertisement Senate House Uncalled House Races Top Races Governor Needle Ga. Senate Runoff Senator Raphael Warnock. Advocates are pushing for legislation to help them. Can College Sports Get More Absurd Than SMU Joining the Pac-12? Christian graduated from high school as valedictorian, and went on to graduate from Stephen F. Austin State University with a B.B.A. Q: How would you address further securing the power grid as we head into winter? Take the political quiz to see which Railroad Commissioner candidates match your politicalbeliefs. Reporting by Lalena Fisher, J. David Goodman and Alicia Parlapiano; production by Amanda Cordero and Jessica White; editing by Wilson Andrews, Ben Koski and Kenan Davis. By 8:30 p.m., it became clear that he was the Democratic nominee for the 35th Congressional District, all but ensuring a win in the general election. Three is protecting our air and our water. No. Just for our own fun. 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. This is the first statewide election in Texas that allows voters to fix issues with their absentee ballots, a process known as curing. But deadlines for fixing ballots vary based on the reasons and method of rejecting a ballot, which has caused some confusion among Texas voters. Another candidate, Marvin Sarge Summers, died earlier this month on the campaign trail after crashing into a tanker truck in Midland. To learn more about ChatGPT and how we can inspire students, we sat down with BestReviews book expert, Ciera Pasturel. He criticized Christians role in last Februarys deadly winter freeze, when power outages and equipment failures choked off much of the fuel to many of the states gas-fired power plants when they needed it most to produce electricity. The incumbent, Ken Paxton, told supporters that hes preparing for a runoff. They still view themselves as the managers of the Texas economy, he says. 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. I have [contaminated] groundwater, he takes $100,000 bribes, Stogner said, referring to leaking pipes in her West Texas area. Key fact: Applications must be . I understand that submitting my email address allows iSideWith.com to send me important notifications via email. Texans will choose between four candidates: Republican incumbent Wayne Christian, Democratic. 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. What is your response to his allegations against you? 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. Joe Gaines, an oil and gas businessman, attended the event and said he wanted to see if it could help him make up his mind about who to support in the May 24 election. Warford, a 33-year-old Austinite, has centered his campaign on the RRCs role in the power grids failure during the 2021 February winter storm and wanting to make more changes to ensure the grids security in the future. This year, he says, his party has a chance. Well, hes a career politician and shes got some good ideas, Gaines said. 2022 Candidate's Guide Home; . Do you value our journalism? . Thanks for donating today. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Its actually undermining the market.. A Federal Judge in Amarillo Could Effectively Ban the Abortion Pill. Four years after rocketing to national fame with a strong but ultimately failed effort to unseat Senator Ted Cruz, Beto ORourke will be the Democratic nominee for Texas governor. The Railroad Commission, which got its name in 1891 when it was created to regulate transportation tariffs, generally toils in obscurity. in General Business in 1973. (9,748 / 9,748) I disagree that were for all. Were angry that I got half-naked on a pumpjack? Railroad Commissioner: x-$3,750 -5000: Justice, Supreme Court g: x-$3,750 -5000: 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. Stogner released the five-second video on Super Bowl Sunday in a tweet with the caption: They said I needed money. We have radiation in our water. Sarah will make sure Texas operators can utilize the latest technology to tackle the toughest operational hurdles. 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. The top two candidates in races where no one reaches that threshold will meet in runoff contests on May 24. The climate catastrophists have made a religion of what they do, he said in the same YouTube interview. 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. Lee esta historia en espaol. Christian was the top choice of 9% of registered voters in that poll, with the other candidates receiving between 3% and 5%. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. By Russell Gold February 17, 2022 11 Incumbent. Daniel Vaughn is the countrys first barbecue editor, and he has eaten more barbecue than you have. 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. But its also true that this election deserves all the attention it can get. 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. iSideWith.com may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our affiliate partnerships with retailers. Q for Christian: Why should Texans elect you again? The Railroad Commission staff recommended against the proposal, but Christian voted in favor of it. What would be your top three priorities as railroad commissioner? Published March 1, 2022. But what weve got is a map with no transparency with the commission. They might know about it now because of Sarah Stogner, said Tom Slocum Jr., a 38-year-old engineering consultant from the Houston area who is one of the four surviving candidates in the Republican primary. The oil and gas industry and the Railroad Commission have a huge impact on Texans clean air and clean water and the environment.. Railroad Commissioners are elected statewide to six-year, staggered terms. One Commissioner position is on the ballot every two years. 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. Updated: Mar 2, 2023 / 11:20 AM CST. By Mose Buchele, KUTNovember 3, 202210:33 amGovernment & Politics, KUT. When someone asked whether she supported shutting down the Keystone XL pipeline project a partially built series of pipelines between Canada and the U.S. that President Joe Biden canceled on his first day in office she said Absolutely not and explained that the Railroad Commission doesnt have jurisdiction over interstate pipelines like Keystone. Perhaps it goes without saying but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. 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. These are the statewide races up for election in the. Courtesy / After college, Christian found success in the music industry with his country/gospel band, the Mercy River Boys and went on to be finalist for a Grammy Award in 1979. Ive been trying. 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. The New York Timess results team is a group of graphics editors, engineers and reporters who build and maintain software to publish election results in real-time as they are reported by results providers. The commission and how theyre enforcing the rules or not enforcing the rules is distorting the market. Texas Governor Race; Texas Lieutenant Governor Race 2022; Texas Attorney General Race 2022; Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts; Here's the lineup: Gary Gates, Republican. Warford is a former business consultant and Democratic Party staffer who wants to be the first Democrat on the commission since 1994, when Mary Scott Nabers lost to Carole Keeton Rylander. The RRC also has oversight over Texas energy industries and enforces related state and federal laws. Race called by The Associated Press. Texas primaries 2022: Key dates. Its not something that I would personally do or undertake, he told the Chronicle. Tipton has won the support of the editorial boards of most of the states major papers, including the Houston Chronicle and the Dallas Morning News. Interviews are granted to candidates who visit Odessa and submit a request to be interviewed. Summers name will still be on the ballot, too, because he died too close to election day to change the ballots. When he accepted a $100,000 campaign donation from a company with business before the Railroad Commission, his GOP primary opponent Sara Stogner accused him of taking bribes.. One November evening in far West Texas, Sarah Stogner decided to strip down to pasties and her underwear, plus boots and a cowboy hat, and climb onto an oil pumpjack while a small film crew watched. 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. 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. Stogner homed in on Christians lack of oil and gas experience compared to her decade as an oil and gas lawyer and what she sees as Christians desire to do whatever the oil and gas industry wants. 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. 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. Governor, incumbent Dan Patrick . We expect candidates for public office to model civil discourse and decorum worthy of the publics trust, its editorial board said. Stogners seminude stunt is only the latest twist in what has become the strangest Republican primary campaign for Railroad Commission in decades. Representative Vicente Gonzalez, a Democrat who narrowly beat a Republican challenger in 2020, has easily avoided a runoff in the 34th, the neighboring Rio Grande Valley district in which hes now running after the lines were redrawn earlier this year. Despite the misleading name, theRailroad Commission of Texas (RRC) is the primary state agency responsible for regulating Texas oil and gas industry. 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. Ahead of these elections, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Gov. frisco rough riders players salary, what happened to larry hinson, does inspection period include weekends in florida,