Millions Pour in to Reelect Texas Oil and Gas Regulator

The list of campaign contributions to incumbent oil and gas regulator Christi Craddick reads like a who’s who of Texas fossil fuel billionaires. There’s West Texas oilman Tim Dunn, Energy Transfer CEO Kelcy Warren and recently deceased Endeavor Energy founder Autry Stephens.

All told, the Midland Republican running for her third term on the Railroad Commission has raked in more than $10 million since 2019, according to reports filed with the Texas Ethics Commission. In comparison, Craddick’s three opponents for the seat have raised less than $30,000 total. Commissioners can accept campaign contributions throughout their six-year terms in office, unlike state legislative and judicial candidates, who are limited to defined election periods. 

Craddick’s opponents are Democrat Katherine Culbert, a process safety engineer in Houston, Libertarian Hawk Dunlap, a well control specialist in the Permian Basin, and Eddie Espinoza of the Green Party. Early voting began Monday.

The results of the race will shape environmental and climate outcomes in Texas for years to come. The three elected commissioners manage funds to plug orphan wells and vote on permits to flare methane and drill injection wells, decisions that can make or cost oil and gas companies money. The sitting commissioners, Craddick, Wayne Christian and Jim Wright, have staunchly opposed environmental and climate policy under the Biden-Harris administration.

Texas Republicans have not lost a statewide race since 1994. But that hasn’t stopped Texas oil and gas executives from opening their pursestrings. Craddick out-fundraised all previous Railroad Commission campaigns, according to the campaign finance accountability group Open Secrets. 

“We call Texas the Wild West of money in politics because there are no limits for what you can give candidates for legislative or executive branch offices,” said Andrew Wheat of Texans for Public Justice, an Austin-based watchdog group. “The sky’s the limit. For the oil and gas industry, those limits run even higher.”

The Craddick campaign did not respond to multiple requests for comment. 

Political Contributions From Industry Raise Concerns

The Railroad Commission of Texas, founded in 1891, is the oldest regulatory agency in the state. Oil industry regulation was added to its mandate in the early 20th century. The agency no longer regulates railroads and now has oversight over oil and gas drilling, gas utilities, pipeline safety, surface coal and uranium mining. Geothermal energy and carbon capture and sequestration are other growing sectors in the agency’s purview.

The agency’s stated mission is to serve Texas through the “stewardship of natural resources and the environment, our concern for personal and community safety, and our support of enhanced development and economic vitality for the benefit…