Jim Wright (commissioner)
21st-century American politician from Texas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James "Jim" Wright (born 1961/1962)[1] is an American businessman and politician who has served as a member of the Railroad Commission of Texas, the elected regulatory body over oil, natural gas, utilities, and surface mining, since 2021.[2] A Republican,[3] Wright owns environmental services companies.[4]
Jim Wright | |
|---|---|
| Railroad Commissioner of Texas | |
| Assumed office January 4, 2021 | |
| Governor | Greg Abbott |
| Preceded by | Ryan Sitton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1961 or 1962 (age 64–65) |
| Party | Republican |
A native of south Texas, Wright defeated incumbent Ryan Sitton in a primary,[5][6] then won the general election held on November 3, 2020, against Chrysta Castañeda.[7]
Wright ran for reelection in 2026. Between February and May, he and former Tarrant County Republican Party Chair Bo French collectively raised more than $3 million in campaign contributions. Wright received significant financial backing from oil and gas companies and industry trade associations, while French's campaign was supported primarily by conservative megadonors.[8] In the Republican primary, Wright received the most votes but failed to reach a majority, triggering a runoff against French.[9][10] Though he received the endorsements of Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, and House Speaker Dustin Burrows,[11] Wright narrowly lost renomination in the May runoff, receiving 49.6% of the vote.[12][13]
