Mella McEwen, MRT.com/Midland Reporter-Telegram
Though Wayne Christian handily led the three challengers seeking his seat on the Railroad Commission, he failed to cross the 50 percent threshold needed to avoid a runoff.
The incumbent, who currently serves as chairman of the three-member commission, received 765,187 or 47.17 percent of the vote. He will face Sarah Stogner, who received 245,272 votes or 15.12 percent of the vote. The two will face voters again in a May 24 runoff.
Tom Slocum Jr. received 232,411 votes or 14.33 percent of the vote while Dawayne Tipton received 186,474 votes or 11.50 percent. Marvin “Sarge” Summers, who was killed in a car accident in Midland County several weeks ago, remained on the ballot and received 192,818 votes or 11.89 percent of the vote.
In Midland County, Christian received 6,048 votes or 47.03 percent of the vote.
Travis McCormick, spokesman for Christian’s campaign, told the Reporter-Telegram by email, “A runoff was always a likely scenario. Every Railroad Commission race with more than three candidates has gone to a runoff in the last 30 years.”
The winner of the runoff will face Democrat Luke Warford in November. Warford received a total of 505,172 votes statewide.
Warford told the Reporter-Telegram by email, “Texas voters have spoken, and it is clear Wayne Christian is eminently beatable. With voters angry that the Railroad Commission can’t keep the lights on and fed up that the commission is ground zero for corruption and self-interest, we’re confident we can beat Wayne Christian in November.”