Empower Texans/Texans for Fiscal Responsibility endorsed former Rep. Wayne Christian (R-Center) in the Railroad Commissioner runoff. He faces Gary Gates, who received 28% of the vote to finish in first place. Christian came in second with 20%.
Gates spent nearly $2 million of his own money before the primary. Christian spent just over $40K.
This is the first of likely many conservative group endorsements for Christian, who received many of them on his way to a 2014 runoff loss to oil and gas engineer Ryan Sitton, 57%-43%, for an open seat on the Railroad Commission. Business and industry groups may be more inclined to support Christian this time.
RRC Chairman David Porter did not seek re-election this year.
Several legislative and judicial candidates previously endorsed by Empower Texans are also in runoffs:
- CCA2: Ray Wheless
- CCA5: Brent Webster
- SD1: Bryan Hughes
- HD5: Cole Hefner
- HD18: Keith Strahan
- HD33: John Keating
- HD64: Read King
- HD73: Kyle Biedermann, and
- HD150: Valoree Swanson
The group may make more endorsements as the runoff nears.
