AUSTIN, Texas — The deceptively named Railroad Commission will stay intact as the incumbent Christi Craddick has won reelection.

Craddick, a Republican, is the current chair of the regulating agency. She beat out Democratic candidate Katherine Culbert, Libertarian candidate Hawk Dunlap and Green Party candidate Eddie Espinoza. 

Craddick declared victory in a social media post Tuesday night. 

According to Craddick’s campaign website, she wants to continue promoting the state’s energy independence, economic opportunities in the oil and gas industry and supporting science-based regulations that foster innovation and growth.

Craddick was initially elected to the Railroad Commission in 2012. Originally from Midland, Craddick earned both a bachelor’s degree and a law degree from The University of Texas at Austin. She has spent her career working in oil, gas, electricity, water, taxation and environmental policy. 

Craddick’s closest opponent, Culbert, a process safety engineer from Houston, came in second with a little over 35% of the vote. She campaigned on a platform focused on safety, corporate responsibility and transparency within the agency.

Despite its name, the Railroad Commission is the state’s oil and gas regulatory agency. The agency is in charge of pipeline transporters, natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline industry, natural gas utilities, the LP-gas industry, critical natural gas infrastructure, and coal and uranium surface mining operations. Commissioners are elected to a six-year term, which are staggered so one seat is on the ballot every two years.