Texas

What it does and who’s running


Editor’s note: To help readers learn more about the candidates running for statewide seats, The Texas Tribune is sharing information about the Republican, Democratic and third-party candidates. For more information on midterms and the voting process, check out our election resources here.

About the elected seat: The Railroad Commission, one of Texas’ oldest regulatory agencies, has not regulated railroads since 2005. Instead, it oversees a constellation of energy infrastructure across the state. Its elected commissioners and staff are tasked with regulating oil and gas production, natural gas facilities, hydrogen, pipelines, coal and uranium surface mining. With several field offices across Texas, the commission inspects facilities, enforces penalties and reports to the Texas Legislature. More recently, the agency has also taken on regulating hydrogen storage and carbon dioxide injection and storage, as companies look to create alternate sources of energy and take advantage of federal financial incentives to recapture carbon dioxide that contributes to climate change.

What’s at stake: Far and away, Texas commands U.S. oil and gas. The industry drills more oil and other hydrocarbons than all the other states combined. This massive industry employs nearly half a million Texans and pays billions of dollars to local and state coffers. And it’s changing. Seeking to become more profitable, oil companies are evolving their business models to expand their ability to deliver natural gas — which powers electricity generation — to data centers. Oil companies are also set to build facilities designed to inject carbon dioxide underground to reduce air pollution. The commission will oversee and regulate these ventures. And as Texas becomes more extreme-weather prone, the agency is also responsible for ensuring that natural gas facilities are prepared to avoid shortages or incidents that could affect the state’s power grid and lead to widespread power outages.

Candidates at a glance:

Bo French Campaign photo

💰 Campaign finance:

  • Cash on hand: $223,192
  • Fundraised since Jan. 1: $333,603

💰 Major donors this year:

  • Texas Freedom Fund for the Advancement of Justice, supported by tycoons Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks — $773,500
  • Texas Conservative Voters PAC – $285,000
  • Marcia Fuller French, a former Texas Christian University trustee — $100,000
  • Luke Dunn, executive at oil company Crownquest Operating — $50,000
  • Farris Wilks, billionaire and cofounder of FracTech – $25,000

Experience:

  • Chairman of the Tarrant County Republican Party
  • Decades-long investor in the energy sector
  • Has a family-owned oil business in Midland

Political ideology:

  • French is hardline conservative who describes himself as a MAGA Republican
  • A high-ranking political activist, French has led the push to shift the party further right
  • Has drawn sharp criticism and calls to step down as county chair following a poll in which he asked his social media followers whether Jews or Muslims were a bigger threat to the country.

Policy stances:

  • As commissioner, he wants to stop what he refers to as an Islamic invasion of Texas from stealing oil and gas resources
  • Has pledged to end Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, funding and practices at the Texas Railroad Commission
  • Has called to end Chinese government influence in the oil industry
  • Has said he will promote more partnerships between the U.S. government and Israel, which he refers to as a key ally
  • Vocal proponent of “pro-life” efforts and emphasizing the nuclear family, campaigning to establish a “pro-family credentialing program” for oil and gas operators
  • He called for the federal government to deport 100 million people, a number that would include American citizens.

In the news:

Endorsements:

  • Gov. Greg Abbott
  • Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick
  • Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian
  • Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick
  • Texas Oil and Gas Association Political Action Committee — political arm of the state’s largest oil and gas group, representing 90% of statewide production
  • Panhandle Producer and Royalty Owners Association — Panhandle-based oil and gas trade group
  • Texas Alliance of Energy Producers — Austin-based oil and gas trade group

How to contact:

Jon Rosenthal Campaign photo

💰 Campaign finance:

  • Cash on hand: $167,879
  • Fundraised since Jan. 1: $64,511

💰 Major donors this year:

  • Donald Henley, professional musician — $25,000
  • Lone Star Project Nonfederal PAC – $10,000
  • Eddie Allen, senior partner at Eagle Global Advisors – $10,000
  • James Talarico Campaign — $2,500
  • Jack Blake, president of Midland-based Navigator Oil & Minerals — $2,000

Experience:

  • Served as state representative in the Texas Legislature for four terms
  • Career oil field mechanical engineer with more than two decades of experience

Political ideology:

  • A supporter of U.S. energy independence and efficiency, and lower carbon emissions, Rosenthal said he believes former President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law helped the country advance its energy needs.
  • Rosenthal said that President Donald Trump’s administration is doing the bidding of oil and gas industry executives, adding that the Railroad Commission has taken a similar approach. He said the oil and gas industry is being regulated by people from the industry who now serve in government.
  • The Railroad Commission, Rosenthal said, has not sufficiently enforced its regulations. The agency should apply existing laws, measure the results and work with the Texas Legislature on modifications, he said.

Policy stances:

  • Hiring community liaisons for the Texas Railroad Commission in every region, and expand language access to include Spanish and Vietnamese, among others
  • A 24/7 hotline for Texans managed by the railroad commission that includes the ability to text, track numbers for cases and resolution timelines
  • More affordable gas rates by scrutinizing utility companies
  • Requirements to capture gas, with enforcement timelines and support for smaller operators
  • End flaring and venting practices to dispose of natural gas except in emergencies and adding modern leak detection and repair requirements
  • Repurposing wells that no longer produce oil and gas for new industries, such as geothermal and carbon dioxide storage
  • Augmenting well-plugging efforts and making public dashboards available for the public
  • No new permits for companies that violate rules

In the news:

Endorsements:

  • Hawk Dunlap — former candidate for Railroad Commissioner in the 2026 Republican primary and longtime critic of the agency
  • Sierra Club — Environmental advocacy group
  • Texas AFL-CIO

How to contact:

  • info@jonrosenthaltx.com
  • 8524 Hwy 6 N., #340 Houston TX 77095
Arthur DiBianca
Arthur DiBianca Campaign

Arthur DiBianca

Libertarian

💰 Campaign finance:

  • Cash on hand: $0
  • Fundraised since Jan. 1: $694

💰 Major donors this cycle:

  • Libertarian Booster PAC – $694 in-kind donation

Experience:

  • Retired, according to state candidate filings
  • Libertarian activist in Austin for several years
  •  Ran for Texas State Senate District 21 in 2022, Texas’ Congressional District 21 in 2020 and for Texas House of Representatives District 51 in 2014

Political ideology: The Libertarian Party of Texas’ platform says it seeks “the maximum protection for the rights of all people against any violation” and that “… government must be kept to the minimum necessary to protect the rights of individuals.” The party also says the government should not interfere in personal matters such as free speech, religion, marriage, family and property rights. It also supports the right to bear arms.

Policy stances:

  • Promote free market energy development without government subsidies or mandates for any energy source
  • Focus on competitive access to pipelines
  • Protect the mineral and surface rights of owners, particularly from government use of eminent domain to take and use private property for public projects 
  • Accountability for operators to plug and clean up abandoned wells with predictable and transparent compliance
  • Environmental regulation that focuses on shifting risk management and costs to the industry rather than taxpayers

In the news:

How to contact:

  • 619 Friar Tuck Lane, Austin, TX 78704
  • votedibianca@gmail.com

Disclosure: Jack E. Jr. Blake has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune within the past five years. The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in our journalism. Find a complete list of them and more information about our financial and disclosure policies here.



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