A Rare Recusal by Texas Oil and Gas Regulator Up for Re-electionAustin American-Statesman, San Antonio Express-NewsMedia Coverage | Nov 24, 2025

Railroad Commissioner Jim Wright removed himself from a vote last week on an oilfield waste company with which he has financial ties. The move highlighted the close relationship between state officials and the industry they regulate.

By Martha Pskowski
November 24th, 2025

“We’re glad to see that Chairman Wright followed state law today and recused himself from a decision which he has a private interest in,” said Virginia Palacios, executive director of the nonprofit Commission Shift. “Although this represents the bare minimum of what we should expect from public officials, it is a step forward for the Railroad Commission.”

Commission Shift called the recusal “historic.” The organization documented Wright’s extensive holdings in the oil and gas industry in a 2021 report titled “Captive Agency.” Commissioners also frequently accept campaign contributions from companies with business before the agency. Wright’s recusal, a Commission Shift spokesperson said, was the first by a member of the Railroad Commission for having a financial tie to a regulated company at least since 2020.