Katherine Culbert

Railroad Commissioner · Republican Primary 2026

Republican

About ✓ Verified

Houston engineer and small business owner who switched from Democratic to Republican Party, emphasizing technical expertise and government transparency while facing criticism over party loyalty.

Key Positions ✓ Verified

Affordability — ensure Texans have access to reliable and cost-conscious energy system
Adaptability — prepare Texas for rapidly changing energy landscape through modernization
Accountability — require greater transparency in agency's regulatory processes
Stronger enforcement of safety and environmental regulations
Ensure natural gas facilities prepare for extreme weather to prevent grid failures
Properly plug orphaned wells
Effective leadership must rise above partisan extremes
More transparency, clear oversight, and responsible environmental stewardship

Strengths Sourced

Engineering expertise in safety
Focus on weather-resilient systems
Transparency and accountability platform
Small-dollar grassroots support

Concerns Sourced

Recently switched from Democrat to Republican
Limited fundraising at approximately $7,000
Low polling at 8%
Questions about party loyalty

Endorsements ✓ Verified

Texas AFL-CIO (labor union)

Polling ✓ Verified

8% in University of Houston poll from January 20-31, 2026

Fundraising ✓ Verified

Updated reports show approximately $6,600-$7,000, mostly small-dollar donations and support from regional Democratic parties

Sources (20)

GOP fight for oil regulator post shifts to DEI, China (2026-02-24)
Texas candidate files as Republican after raising Democrat funds - Newsweek (2026-02-24)
Texas Railroad Commissioner election, 2026 - Ballotpedia (2026-02-24)
Texas Railroad Commission primary: Who is running and what to know | News From The States (2026-02-24)
Know your ballot: Railroad Commissioner | KLBK | KAMC | EverythingLubbock.com (2026-02-24)
Top candidates in the 2026 Texas Railroad Commission primary (2026-02-24)
Q&A: Get to know the Republican primary candidates for Texas railroad commissioner | Community Impact (2026-02-24)
Texas Railroad Commission primary: Who is running and what to know (2026-02-24)
Chip Roy, Don Huffines, Sid Miller Lead GOP Primary Field in New Poll - Texas Scorecard (2026-02-24)
Chip Roy, Mayes Middleton leading Texas attorney general GOP primary in new poll – Houston Public Media (2026-02-24)
Who’s leading in Texas’ 2026 election? New poll offers clues | khou.com (2026-02-24)
James Wright (Texas Railroad Commission) - Ballotpedia (2026-02-24)
In a contest to regulate Texas’s oil and gas industry, one Republican wants to talk DEI and China (2026-02-24)
Jim Wright - Jim Wright (2026-02-24)
James Matlock (Texas Railroad Commission candidate) - Ballotpedia (2026-02-24)
FilingInfo Campaign Finance TEC Filers (2026-02-24)
Texas comptroller GOP primary draws donors with agency ties (2026-02-24)
Texas Railroad Commission primary: Candidates, backgrounds, and key issues (2026-02-24)
Michael Bloomberg gives $2.6 million to Democrat running for railroad commission (2026-02-24)
RRC Commissioners (2026-02-24)

Data last verified: Mar 3, 2026 · 20 sources cited

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Data Confidence
✓ Verified backed by official sources (Ballotpedia, Vote Smart, .gov)
Sourced from web sources cited below
AI-inferred generated by AI from available information