Originally published on August 16, 2024 with OpenSecrets

The incumbent chair of the Texas Railroad Commission, Texas’ state commission overseeing the oil and gas industry, set a new fundraising record this year, raising nearly $9.2 million as of July 15. At least a quarter of Chairwoman Christi Craddick’s total fundraising has come from donors in the energy and natural resources sector, which her agency regulates.

Craddick, seated on the commission since 2012, won her March primary with 50.4% of the vote. She broke the record that was set previously by her 2018 campaign, which raised over $6.1 million to resecure her position.

Railroad Commissioners in the state of Texas haven’t overseen railroads since at least 2005, and instead regulate oil, gas and mining in the state.

Commission Shift, a nonprofit organization aimed at the reformation of the oversight of oil and gas in the state, raised concern with the volume of contributions from donors within the oil and gas industry. The organization’s report, “Captive Agency,” highlights four instances where Craddick still participated in agency matters when she had a vested interest in the companies being examined and also received campaign contributions from them. 

Railroad commissioners, unlike other state-level elected positions in Texas, are allowed to collectcampaign contributions throughout their entire term and are not limited to a defined window.

Craddick’s fundraising significantly dwarfs all of her opponents in the Republican primary and across the aisle. 

Republican challenger Petra Reyes, the second-biggest fundraiser in the race, managed to raise about $100,000 before losing the primary with 5% of the vote. 

Katherine Culbert, Craddick’s Democrat challenger in the general election, has raised about $13,000. Culbert also raised less than Bill Burch, the other Democrat in the race, who raised just shy of $66,000 before losing the primary to Culbert. Craddick’s reelection campaign is currently the eighth most funded state level race in 2024, surpassing that of higher profile seats like governors and attorneys general, even though Republicans have handily won these seats since at least 2000.