US MIDTERMS 2022: Oil, gas champion wins new term at Texas commission

Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Wayne Christian easily fended off a challenge from Democrat Luke Warford, keeping the pro-oil and gas businessman in charge of the oil and gas regulatory agency.

Christian was leading with 55.5% of the vote, the Associated Press estimated early Nov. 9, with 97% of votes counted.

Warford's campaign tried to blame Christian's leadership of the commission for much of the damage caused by the February 2021 winter storm, in which frozen natural gas facilities contributed to power outages that affected millions of Texans and killed more than 200. But Christian rode his strong pro-fossil fuel message to victory, winning a new six-year term on the three-member commission. He was the only commissioner facing re-election.

Christian, who was first elected to the commission in 2016, has consistently employed a light regulatory touch and, for the last two years, has blasted what he has called Biden Administration overreach into Texas' energy sector. His campaign advocated more oil and gas production in the state, claimed substantial progress on reducing flaring of gas and pointed to wind energy as unreliable.

State lawmakers gave the commission substantial new responsibilities following the 2021 winter storm to ensure that the state's gas equipment is better weatherized, but the commission has come under criticism, first for allowing gas companies to escape weatherization requirements with modest fines -- a decision the commission eventually walked back. Last week, the commission also exempted smaller gas companies from the requirements at industry urging.

Besides trying to blame Christian for the 2021 winter disaster, Warford's campaign said the current slate of commissioners is too financially tied to the oil and gas sector. It also backed cutting down on flaring exemptions, which Warford called economically wasteful as international demand soars for Texas gas, and climate concerns increase.