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Attorney/businesswoman Craddick won her first political race when she defeated fellow Republican Warren Chisum of Pampa, Texas, in her party's runoff election held on July 31, 2012. The contest was contentious because Chisum, a former state representative from the Texas Panhandle and himself a businessman active in the energy industry, had been a key lieutenant of former Speaker Craddick. Chisum also criticized Tom Craddick for having contributed $300,000 to Christi Craddick's campaign.<ref name=rangel/>.  

Attorney/businesswoman Craddick won her first political race when she defeated fellow Republican Warren Chisum of Pampa, Texas, in her party's runoff election held on July 31, 2012. The contest was contentious because Chisum, a former state representative from the Texas Panhandle and himself a businessman active in the energy industry, had been a key lieutenant of former Speaker Craddick. Chisum also criticized Tom Craddick for having contributed $300,000 to Christi Craddick's campaign.<ref name=rangel/>.  

   

   

The ''Lubbock Avalanche-Journal'' described Chisum's prospects as "uphill" considering that Craddick raised three times the campaign contributions that Chisum had amassed. She reported to the Texas Ethics Commisson more than $1 million in contributions compared to Chisum's $375,000. Chisum was able to remain competitive, however, by tapping into more than $600,000 that he had raised during his legislative years. Craddick was backed by such wealthy donors as the physician-turned-entrepreneur James Leininger and homebuilder Bob Perry of [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], no relation to Governor [[Rick Perry]].<ref name=rangel>{{cite web|url=http://lubbockonline.com/filed-online/2012-06-03/chisum-faces-uphill-battle-new-seat|title=Enrique Rangel, "Chisum faces uphill battle for new seat"|publisher=''Lubbock Avalanche-Journal'', June 3, 2012|accessdate=June 3, 2012</ref>

The ''Lubbock Avalanche-Journal'' described Chisum's prospects as "uphill" considering that Craddick raised three times the campaign contributions that Chisum had amassed. She reported to the Texas Ethics Commisson more than $1 million in contributions compared to Chisum's $375,000. Chisum was able to remain competitive, however, by tapping into more than $600,000 that he had raised during his legislative years. Craddick was backed by such wealthy donors as the physician-turned-entrepreneur James Leininger and homebuilder Bob Perry of [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], no relation to Governor [[Rick Perry]].<ref name=rangel>{{cite web|url=http://lubbockonline.com/filed-online/2012-06-03/chisum-faces-uphill-battle-new-seat|title=Enrique Rangel, "Chisum faces uphill battle for new seat"|publisher=''Lubbock Avalanche Journal''|accessdate=December 31, 2012}}</ref>

   

   

Craddick won the runoff held on July 31, 2012, against Chisum, 589,211 votes (59.8 percent) to 396,858 ballots (40.2 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://enr.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/july31_162_state.htm?x=0&y=1397&id=463|title=Republican runoff election results, July 31, 2012|publisher=enr.sos.state.tx.us|accessdate=December 31, 2012}}</ref> Several other Republican candidates for the seat had beeneliminated in the May 29 primary. After she defeated Chisum, Craddick then easily prevailed over the [[Democrat]] Dale P. Henry (born 1930), a retired petroleum engineer from Lampasas,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://c3.thevoterguide.org/v/dallas12/race-detail.do?id=10254359|title=Voter Guide|publisher=c3.thevoterguide.org|accessdate=December 31, 2012}}</ref> who had previously run for the commission. Craddick polled 4,336,499 votes (56.2 percent) to Henry's 3,057,733 (39.6 percent). The remaining 4.2 percent was held by two minor candidates. Craddick ran some 233,000 votes behind the Republican presidential nominee, [[Mitt Romney]], and Henry ran more than 250,000 ballots behind his party's national standard-bearer, [[U.S. President]] [[Barack H. Obama]]. Hence, some 500,000 Texans who vote in the presidential race did not participate in the contest for railroad commission.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe|title=Texas general election returns, Novembver 6, 2012|publisher=elections.sos.state.tx.us|accessdate=December 31, 2012}}</ref>

Craddick won the runoff held on July 31, 2012, against Chisum, 589,211 votes (59.8 percent) to 396,858 ballots (40.2 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://enr.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/july31_162_state.htm?x=0&y=1397&id=463|title=Republican runoff election results, July 31, 2012|publisher=enr.sos.state.tx.us|accessdate=December 31, 2012}}</ref> Several other Republican candidates for the seat had beeneliminated in the May 29 primary. After she defeated Chisum, Craddick then easily prevailed over the [[Democrat]] Dale P. Henry (born 1930), a retired petroleum engineer from Lampasas,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://c3.thevoterguide.org/v/dallas12/race-detail.do?id=10254359|title=Voter Guide|publisher=c3.thevoterguide.org|accessdate=December 31, 2012}}</ref> who had previously run for the commission. Craddick polled 4,336,499 votes (56.2 percent) to Henry's 3,057,733 (39.6 percent). The remaining 4.2 percent was held by two minor candidates. Craddick ran some 233,000 votes behind the Republican presidential nominee, [[Mitt Romney]], and Henry ran more than 250,000 ballots behind his party's national standard-bearer, [[U.S. President]] [[Barack H. Obama]]. Hence, some 500,000 Texans who vote in the presidential race did not participate in the contest for railroad commission.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe|title=Texas general election returns, Novembver 6, 2012|publisher=elections.sos.state.tx.us|accessdate=December 31, 2012}}</ref>

   

   

[[Ernest Angelo]], a former Midland mayor who previously served for twenty years as the Texas Republican National Committeeman, said that Craddick, whom he has known for her entire life -- he and Tom Craddick are neighbors -- gained credibility with large Republican donors. Craddick had earlier raised funds and campaigned for other Republicans. She traveled by highway to meet with conservative and women's groups. According to Angelo, "she showed she will do what it takes to win a state primary. She earned it."<ref name=midland/>

[[Ernest Angelo]], a former Midland mayor who previously served for twenty years as the Texas Republican National Committeeman, said that Craddick, whom he has known for her entire life -- he and Tom Craddick are neighbors -- gained credibility with large Republican donors. Craddick had earlier raised funds and campaigned for other Republicans. She traveled by highway to meet with conservative and women's groups. According to Angelo, "she showed she will do what it takes to win a state primary. She earned it."<ref name=midland/>

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