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==Political career==

==Railroad Commission race==

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/>.  

Railroad Commission chairman Barry Smitherman, formerly of Houston, also won election in 2012 but for a two-year term on the panel. He must hence run again in 2014 for a regular six-year term. The third commissioner, David J. Porter of Giddings in Lee County, formerly of Midland, won a full term on the panel in 2010. All commissioners have been Republican since 1995. Two of the three commissioners now have a direct background from the oil-rich Permian Basin in the Midland/[[Odessa, Texas|Odessa]] area.<ref name=midland/>

Railroad Commission chairman Barry Smitherman, formerly of Houston, also won election in 2012 but for a two-year term on the panel. He must hence run again in 2014 for a regular six-year term. The third commissioner, David J. Porter of Giddings in Lee County, formerly of Midland, won a full term on the panel in 2010. All commissioners have been Republican since 1995. Two of the three commissioners now have a direct background from the oil-rich Permian Basin in the Midland/[[Odessa, Texas|Odessa]] area.<ref name=midland/>

   

   

Political scientist Mark Jones of [[Rice University]] in Houston attributes Craddick's nomination and eventual election to the "respect" within the Republican Party for her father. Though still a representative since 1969, Tom Craddick lost the Speakership in 2009 to [[Joe Straus]] of San Antonio, who prevailed through a coalition of mostly Democrats and sixteen moderate Republican members. Professor Jones said that the respect for Craddick was particularly visible in the primary runoff against Chisum. The result is a rare father-daughter combination in Texas politics.<ref name=midland>{{cite web|url=http://www.mywesttexas.com/top_stories/article_e5132631-9b4c-580f-b2da-815daec739f1.html|title=Christi Craddick's ascension puts family in elite company, December 23, 2012|publisher=mywesttexas.com|accessdate=December 31, 2012}}</ref>

Political scientist Mark Jones of [[Rice University]] in Houston attributes Craddick's nomination and eventual election to the "respect" within the Republican Party for her father. Though still a representative since 1969, Tom Craddick lost the Speakership in 2009 to [[Joe Straus]] of San Antonio, who prevailed through a coalition of mostly Democrats and sixteen moderate Republican members. Professor Jones said that the respect for Craddick was particularly visible in the primary runoff against Chisum. The result is a rare father-daughter combination in Texas politics.<ref name=midland>{{cite web|url=http://www.mywesttexas.com/top_stories/article_e5132631-9b4c-580f-b2da-815daec739f1.html|title=Christi Craddick's ascension puts family in elite company, December 23, 2012|publisher=mywesttexas.com|accessdate=December 31, 2012}}</ref>