2024 Texas General Election

2024 Texas General Election Runoff

As of September 7, 2024, Christi Craddick’s website did not contain information on this issue.

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Christi lives in Austin with her daughter, Catherine, and is an active member of St. John Neumann Catholic Church. She holds a bachelor’s degree and a law degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Christi is a native of Midland.

Before joining the commission in November 2012, Christi specialized in issues related to oil, gas, electricity, water, taxation, and environmental policy.

Christi Craddick currently serves as a commissioner on the Texas Railroad Commission. She was first elected in 2012 and is serving her 2nd term.

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Supports Texas oil and gas production to meet projected global oil demand.

Supports Texas oil and gas production to meet projected global oil demand and opposes Green New Deal regulations.  

Opposes federal regulations on the Texas oil and gas industry.

Believes in free-market energy regulation and supports efficient, consistent, and predictable regulations to boost domestic energy production.

Promises to "always champion American energy independence."

Said, " I work tirelessly to ensure that our pursuit of energy resources respects and upholds the private property rights of every Texan."

- Supports Texas oil and gas production to meet projected global oil demand and opposes Green New Deal regulations.  
- Opposes federal regulations on the Texas oil and gas industry.
- Believes in free-market energy regulation and supports efficient, consistent, and predictable regulations to boost domestic energy production.
- Promises to "always champion American energy independence."
- Said, " I work tirelessly to ensure that our pursuit of energy resources respects and upholds the private property rights of every Texan."

Energy & the Environment

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Christi Craddick

Christi Craddick lives in Austin with her daughter, Catherine, and is an active member of St. John Neumann Catholic Church. She holds both a Bachelor’s Degree as a Plan II graduate and a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from The University of Texas at Austin. Christi is a proud native of Midland.

Christi Craddick is the Chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission. Before joining the commission in November 2012, she specialized in issues related to oil, gas, electricity, water, taxation, and environmental policy.

Christi Craddick has served as a Commissioner of the Texas Railroad Commission since November 2012 and is currently the Chairman of the Commission.

Opposes "progressive policies" on public safety.

Supports continuing to uphold the Second Amendment.

Promises to be "Committed to the People of Texas."

Believes in "standing strong" for Texas and America.

Believes donations to their campaign support a vision for a prosperous Texas.

Encourages voters to follow their campaign on social media to stay informed about their work, initiatives, and vision for Texas.

Supports policies that enhance community safety and address crime.

Believes public safety is essential for Texas to "keep Texas thriving."

Supports community engagement and safety through active church participation.

Believes "the strength of Texas lies in its people and their rights."

Believes in "defending our constitutional freedoms," which may include supporting gun rights and opposing certain regulations.

Opposes policies that undermine the oil and gas industry, threaten jobs, and jeopardize national security.

Supports the development of renewable energy sources.

Believes serving as Chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission is an honor.

Believes in conducting energy exploration and production responsibly, respecting land and property rights.

Believes in advocating for state-led energy solutions that acknowledge the state's "unique energy landscape and international importance."

Supports the Railroad Commission's efforts to evaluate and improve regulatory rules and processes.

Supports policies that promote clean energy, reduce carbon emissions, and protect natural resources.

Believes the Railroad Commission should balance regulatory oversight with fostering industry growth through innovation.

Believes the "Texas economic miracle" showcases the benefits of limited government, saying, "By leveraging science and data to efficiently manage production activities, we unleash the entrepreneurial spirit of Texas..."

Supports implementing comprehensive chemical disclosure rules for fracking and updating integrity testing standards for drilling and well completion.

Believes in prioritizing lower energy costs for Texans.

- Believes in prioritizing lower energy costs for Texans.

As of September 7, 2024, Eddie Espinoza’s website did not contain information on this issue.

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Ballotpedia, Eddie Espinoza

Eddie was born in Dallas. He earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.

Eddie works as a transportation engineer. He taught in Texas Public Schools for 26 years. He also served in the U.S. Army.

Eddie Espinoza previously ran for the U.S. Senate.

Supports capping and cleaning up abandoned gas wells, pipeline leaks, and other sources of fossil fuel pollution.

Opposes fracking and new fossil fuel projects.

Promises to prioritize protecting freshwater resources.

Supports a timely transition from fossil fuels to clean renewable energy.

Supports expanding fresh water storage capacity by protecting low-lying areas to create natural lakes and ponds.

Opposes subsidies, handouts, or bailouts for the oil and gas industry.

Supports ensuring Texas complies with federal environmental regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Believes the Railroad Commission needs more inspectors, saying "only 65 inspectors who each cover an average of 7,300 miles of pipeline all over the state."

- Supports capping and cleaning up abandoned gas wells, pipeline leaks, and other sources of fossil fuel pollution.
- Opposes fracking and new fossil fuel projects.
- Promises to prioritize protecting freshwater resources.
- Supports a timely transition from fossil fuels to clean renewable energy.
- Supports expanding fresh water storage capacity by protecting low-lying areas to create natural lakes and ponds.
- Opposes subsidies, handouts, or bailouts for the oil and gas industry.
- Supports ensuring Texas complies with federal environmental regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency.
- Believes the Railroad Commission needs more inspectors, saying "only 65 inspectors who each cover an average of 7,300 miles of pipeline all over the state."

Eddie Espinoza

As of September 12, 2024, Eddie Espinoza’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Eddie Espinoza taught in Texas Public Schools for 26 years. He also served in the US Army, where he was responsible for driving a Bradley fighting vehicle into battle during Desert Storm.

Prioritizes reducing energy costs for Texans over oil and gas "rescues."

Believes in maintaining high ethical standards and addressing conflicts of interest to ensure public safety and trust.

Opposes US intervention in global conflicts.

Supports an arms embargo and ceasefire in Palestine.

Believes the "ongoing genocide in Palestine is the moral test for American political candidates and parties in 2024."

Supports restricting who can donate to candidates for Railroad Commissioner and limiting campaign contributions to $5,000, similar to state judicial races.

Believes in being a "problem solver" rather than a politician, emphasizing his military service and combat experience in ensuring public safety.

Supports restricting donors and limiting campaign contributions to $5,000 for Railroad Commissioner candidates.

Supports eliminating economic and political ties of the commission with the oil and gas industry with strict conflict of interest policies.

Supports eliminating the commission’s economic and political ties to the oil and gas industry with strict conflict of interest policies.

Opposes military intervention for oil and supports ending violence in Palestine.

Supports an arms embargo on Israel and calls for an immediate permanent ceasefire in Palestine.

Supports Palestine and stands with "anti-genocide and anti-colonial activists fighting atrocities anywhere."

Supports phasing out fossil fuel energy plants.

Wants to expand the commission’s work to provide affordable, sustainable, 100% renewable energy to Texans.

Supports improving oversight for orphaned and inactive wells, flaring, and oil and gas waste pits.

Supports banning fracking and transitioning fossil fuel jobs from drilling to obstruction and cleaning.

Supports closing inactive oil and gas wells.

Supports holding fossil fuel corporations accountable for damaging Texas ecosystems and public health.

As of September 7, 2024, Hawk Dunlap’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Hawk is from Longview, Texas. He earned his bachelor's degree from Stephen F. Austin State University. 

Hawk is the director of global operations at Well Control Management International. He previously worked as a well control specialist and as a drilling specialist. 

Hawk Dunlap's campaign for railroad commissioner in the State of Texas is his first run for public office. 

Reuters, Texas oil regulator under scrutiny as zombie wells gush back to life

Supports reforming well-plugging practices to prevent groundwater contamination and "zombie wells."

Emphasizes efficiently plugging wells to prevent groundwater contamination and abandoned wells that continue to leak toxic chemicals.

Said, "It's about seeing that things are done right and not letting oil companies run over the citizens of Texas just because they produce oil and gas and pay some royalties."

- Emphasizes efficiently plugging wells to prevent groundwater contamination and abandoned wells that continue to leak toxic chemicals.
- Said, "It's about seeing that things are done right and not letting oil companies run over the citizens of Texas just because they produce oil and gas and pay some royalties."

Hawk Dunlap

Hawk Dunlap holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences from Stephen F. Austin State University. None.

Hawk Dunlap has held senior positions in leading companies, overseeing global operations and well control. He has extensive experience in well control operations, including roles in the U.A.E., Papua New Guinea, Algeria, Indonesia, Kurdistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the Caspian Sea, Iraq, Uzbekistan, India, Argentina, California, Kuwait, Nigeria, and the United States.

As of September 12, 2024, Hawk Dunlap’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Believes that issues such as pollution and unsafe practices endanger public health, the environment, and the integrity of the energy industry.

Believes in addressing gas injection well blowouts and fires, citing a 2020 incident in Algeria that was capped and diverted in 36 days.

As a well site supervisor, capped and diverted a well in 36 days and planned and supervised the well-killing operation using a snubbing unit.

Believes in the importance of effective blowout recovery techniques, as demonstrated by successfully recovering a sheared 7” landing joint in Nigeria in 2021.

Supports enforcing stricter regulations and improving well-plugging procedures to protect Texas' resources and communities.

Believes addressing groundwater contamination, blowouts, and "zombie wells" is crucial for the Texas Railroad Commission.

Believes in prioritizing safety in energy extraction, citing a 2010 Iraq incident where a surface blowout occurred with drill pipe ejected from the well.

As a drilling engineer, capped a blowout in Indonesia in 2004 and performed plugging operations.

Supports the removal of oil rigs and capping wells, even in the event of a blowout and fire.

Believes in "fixing" the Texas oil and gas industry.

Believes in addressing environmental issues, citing a 2010 underground blowout in Uzbekistan.

Believes in addressing environmental disasters, citing the 2011 underground blowout off the coast of Mumbai, India.

Believes in utilizing advanced techniques such as multi-string hot tapping and freezing to enhance oil extraction processes, as demonstrated in Saudi Arabia in 2012.

Believes in the importance of safe oil production, citing a 2011 incident in Iraq where a surface blowout production well released hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a toxic gas.

As of September 7, 2024, Katherine Culbert’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Believes the Railroad Commission's mission should focus on personal and community safety.

- Believes the Railroad Commission's mission should focus on personal and community safety.

Ballotpedia, Katherine Culbert

Katherine earned a bachelor's degree in paper science and engineering from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, a master's degree in business administration from University at Albany, and a master's degree in law from Northwestern University.

Katherine is a process safety engineer from Houston with over 20 years of experience in the oil and gas industry.

Katherine Culbert's campaign for railroad commissioner is her first run for public office.

Believes in protecting the environment, holding oil and gas corporations accountable, and increasing transparency at the Texas Railroad Commission.

Supports strict accountability for oil and gas corporations, especially regarding regulatory exceptions. Plans to enforce policies ensuring companies safely plug orphan wells, protecting Texas's groundwater, air quality, and quality of life.

Plans to enforce policies ensuring companies safely plug orphan wells, protecting Texas's groundwater, air quality, and quality of life.

- Believes in protecting the environment, holding oil and gas corporations accountable, and increasing transparency at the Texas Railroad Commission.
- Plans to enforce policies ensuring companies safely plug orphan wells, protecting Texas's groundwater, air quality, and quality of life.

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Katherine Culbert

As of September 12, 2024, Katherine Culbert’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Katherine Culbert is a Process Safety Engineer from Houston with over 20 years of experience in the oil and gas industry.

Believes transparency is crucial and plans to "question how decisions are made, especially when it comes to corporate influence and campaign contributions."

Believes transparency is essential and opposes actions driven by corporate donations.

Believes the Texas Railroad Commission is a "powerful agency" that plays a crucial role in regulating the oil and gas industries.

Believes in the importance of oil and gas for the Texas economy, but also supports holding corporations accountable, enforcing safety standards, and protecting the environment.

As a member of the Commission, focused on energy, particularly overseeing the exploration, production, and environmental safety of oil and natural gas.

Believes the Texas Commission is crucial for both Texas and the global energy market, influencing energy prices, environmental health, and economic stability through its regulatory role in drilling, industry regulations, and natural resource conservation.

Supports strict adherence to safety protocols in oil and gas operations to prevent accidents and environmental damage.

Texas Solidarity Party, Our 2024 Candidates

Ballotpedia, Richard McKibbin

Richard lives with his wife and their daughter in Ector, Texas, and attends the Way Christian Fellowship. 

Richard is a customer service representative.

Richard McKibbin's campaign for railroad commissioner is his 1st run for public office. 

As of September 7, 2024, Richard McKibbin did not have a website or any information online.

Richard McKibbin

Richard is married and has a daughter. He is Christian. 

Richard McKibbin's campaign fro Railroad Commissioner is his 1st run for public office. 

Richard McKibbin's campaign fro Railroad Commissioner is his first run for public office. 

- The railroad commissioner is one of three members of the Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates the oil and natural gas industry, pipeline transporters, liquified petroleum gas, coal and uranium mining, and oversees clean drinking water. Despite its name, the commission no longer regulates railroads.
- Railroad commissioners are elected in statewide partisan elections for six-year, staggered terms, with one seat up for election every two years. The commissioners elect the chairman, and the Governor appoints replacements if a vacancy arises.

One of three commissioners who oversee the oil and gas industry, coal and uranium mining, and clean drinking water. 

Texas Railroad Commissioner

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Energy & the Environment