Jim Wright: Wrong for Texas

Who is Jim Wright?

A Conflicted Regulator Putting Oil Companies First

Deep Industry Ties & Conflicts of Interest

Across the three sitting Railroad Commissioners, 67% of campaign funds raised over six years came from the oil and gas industry they oversee. Source: Commission Shift

Wright reported active interests in 18 oil and gas waste companies, and Commission Shift says he and a former RRC permitting manager run a company that specializes in securing permits from his agency. Source: Commission Shift

Historic first: In November 2025, Wright recused himself from an Eagleford Recycling permit matter where he had a private financial interest. Commission Shift says no Railroad Commissioners had recused on personal/private interest grounds before that open meeting. Source: Commission Shift

Pay-to-Play: The Blackhorn Case

Commission Shift reports that while Blackhorn Environmental's permit renewal was pending, Blackhorn officials contributed $3,000 to then-candidate Wright and Wright's companies disposed of 60 loads of oil-based mud at the facility. Wright voted to renew Blackhorn's permits. Source: Commission Shift

Local resident Tara Jones told Commission Shift: "Our family has experienced health impacts from living next to the Blackhorn facility... I have zero confidence the RRC can protect public safety when its commissioners benefit financially from the operators they oversee."

Additional coverage: KUT Radio

Checkered Business Past

Wright's company, DeWitt Recyclable Products, was hit with an emergency cease-and-desist order for serious environmental violations in 2017.

The Railroad Commission fined his company $181,500 – one of the largest fines of its kind – for "improperly handling" oil and gas waste, with inspectors finding oily waste and contaminants leaking into the environment.

Multiple lawsuits allege fraud, unpaid bills, and shady asset transfers. Contractors claim Wright collected an $800,000 cleanup bond for himself instead of using it for site remediation or paying creditors.

Conflicts of Interest

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Industry Money

67% of campaign funds from oil & gas companies. Over $640,000 in donations from the industry he's supposed to regulate independently.

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Personal Business Stakes

Active interests in 18 oil & gas waste companies under RRC jurisdiction. Runs a consulting firm that helps oil companies get permits.

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Pay-to-Play Politics

Voted to approve permits for companies that donated to his campaign. Industry lobbyists helped write new regulations behind closed doors.

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Ethical Violations

First commissioner in history to recuse himself for financial conflicts. Multiple cases where personal interests influenced decisions.

Epic Failures

Winter Storm Uri: A Deadly Disaster

The state's final official estimate is 246 winter storm-related deaths. Source: Texas DSHS | Texas Tribune coverage

During the crisis, commissioners emphasized messaging and defended the industry. Wright forwarded public questions to staff calling them "the greatest issue we will face from this event" and urged a PR plan while Texans were still without power. Source: Texas Tribune

Commissioners also amplified claims blaming renewables for outages, according to emails and public statements reviewed by the Texas Tribune, even though natural gas failures were the primary cause.

❌ Climate Denial

Wright claims climate change is just the Earth "evolving" and questions whether gas flaring harms the atmosphere. He's actively opposed EPA methane emission rules and federal climate initiatives.

❌ Blocking Clean Energy

Consistently undermines renewable energy progress. Scapegoated wind and solar for the 2021 grid collapse. Sees Texas energy future as "led by fossil fuels" with renewables as a threat.

❌ Letting Industry Write the Rules

The commission is rewriting Statewide Rule 8 "at the request of industry and legislators." Critics raised red flags because the process is led by Wright, who has ownership interests in disposal companies. Commission Shift accused Wright of soliciting input only from industry reps. Source: Texas Tribune

❌ Weakening Environmental Protections

Revived task force to weaken rules protecting water supplies from oil waste. Grants routine exceptions for harmful practices like gas flaring and wastewater injection with little accountability.

The Record Speaks

"There's an obvious conflict of interest if the industry gets to rewrite their own rules to their own financial benefit, and they end up writing rules that make people sick or contaminate groundwater. Texans should be outraged by the blatant conflicts of interest we found at the Railroad Commission."
- Virginia Palacios, Commission Shift

"[The RRC] essentially farmed out their policy-writing to an industry trade group and then adopted wholesale what that group told them was acceptable."
- Environmental Defense Fund

By The Numbers

67%

of funds raised by the three sitting commissioners over six years came from oil & gas

active interests in oil & gas waste companies reported by Wright

$181,519

settlement fine for Wright's company

246

official Uri-related deaths (Texas DSHS)

Take Action

Texans deserve a Railroad Commission that puts people over polluters.

📢 Spread the Word

Share this information with fellow Texans. People need to know about Wright's conflicts of interest and failures.

📝 Contact Your Representatives

Demand reform of the Railroad Commission. Call for strict ethics rules, contribution limits, and real accountability.

🗳️ Vote

Support candidates who will prioritize clean energy, environmental protection, and ethical governance over corporate interests.

TAKE ACTION

Jim Wright:WRONG FOR TEXAS