Most of the Texas Railroad Commission chairman’s campaign funding came from the oil and gas industry

AUSTIN — Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Wayne Christian has faced accusations of corruption and ethics violations for most of his re-election campaign. Because they’re trying to get him out, first from the Republican Party’s main opponent, and now from the Democratic Party.

His decision came after it emerged that he had received a $100,000 campaign donation from a company based in his hometown center just three days after voting to approve the company’s permit request in December 2020. Criticism of the action intensified. -year term, he has repeatedly denied any inappropriateness and said the donation would not affect his decisions as commissioner.

From January 1, 2021 to October 31, 2021, Christian has raised approximately $1.5 million. According to one person, at least two-thirds of that money (just over $1 million) came from oil and gas interests, either companies or individuals with ties to the industry. . dallas morning news Review of Christian campaign finance reports. The analysis does not include donors who may have ties to oil and gas not disclosed in the report.

The Railway Board does not oversee trains or railroads. Rather, it is the primary regulator of Texas’ large oil and gas industry.

Across different reporting periods in 2022, the percentage of Christian contributions from industry varied.

• From May 15th to June 30th, he received donations of $215,000. About $214,100, over 99% came from the oil and gas industry.
• From July 1st to September 29th, he received about $125,000. About $90,000 (70%) was for oil and gas profits.
• From September 30th to October 29th, he received approximately $88,400. About $32,500, 36% came from this sector.

In a statement, Christian said he never allowed political contributions to influence his decisions in elected office.

“I have the support of the oil and gas industry because of my track record of fighting for pro-business policies that create jobs and support the economy,” he said. “My opponents, backed by radical climate activists like the Sierra Club, are shutting down oil and gas and increasing the cost of gas and groceries in all of Texas.”

Last year, Commission Shift, a non-profit organization seeking to overhaul the agency, released a series of reports along with Texans for Public Justice, saying the railroad commission was a “caught” agency and had a very strong relationship with industry. He argued that they are so closely related that they cannot be effectively regulated. oversee it. The report looked at Christian donations over a five-year period (January 2015 to December 2020) and found that 69% came from oil and gas.

Christian is fighting Democrat Luke Warford, 33, the youngest statewide candidate in the election. Warford has outpaced Christian in his campaign since May, reaching $736,000 to $621,500, backed by Sarah Togner, who lost to Christian in the May 24 Republican runoff. However, a late-September poll by the Texas Hispanic Policy Foundation trailed by 10 points. .

About 1% of Warford’s contribution over the same period is related to oil and gas.

“Commissioners may feel they can make objective decisions under this structure, but current campaign finance rules tip the scales in favor of campaign donors over ordinary voters. may appear to be

Christian’s top three donors were Republican mega-donors Javaid S. Anwar, NGL Water Solutions Permian LLC, and Marshall McCrea, who raised a total of $240,000. Since 2010, NGL Water Solutions Permian LLC has contributed approximately $462,500, all of which goes to the Railroad Commission.

None of the top contributors immediately responded to requests for comment.

No Democrat has held statewide office since 1994.

Warford said he ran for office partly because he felt the commission was closely tied to the oil and gas industry. He said the amount was “abnormal”.

“I don’t think anyone would be okay with seeing that 70% of his contributions came from people he was responsible for,” Warford said in a phone interview. “Wayne Christian is one of the most divisively elected statewide officials in the state, and as a result, he is basically doing what donors tell him to do, not his job. I am doing what I do.”

Warford said that if he was elected, he would make decisions in the best interests of the people of Texas, not corporations or executives.

“I was raised to believe that civil servants should serve the people, do what they were elected, and fight for the people,” he said. I think it’s up to the people of Texas.”