Jon Rosenthal

Rosenthal was born on August 17, 1963, in Palo Alto, California. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor's degree in 1991. He received additional education from the University of Houston in 2016. Rosenthal's professional experience includes working as a mechanical engineer.[1]

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Video submitted to BallotpediaReleased September 29, 2025

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’ve been in Texas since 1979. Graduating from The University of Texas at Austin in 1991, I received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. I’ve worked for over 25 years in and around the oil & gas industry, demonstrating success as a Project Manager, Engineering Manager, and Subsea Systems Engineer – including leading large multi-national teams on billion-dollar development projects. In 2016, I earned a Graduate Certificate in Subsea Engineering from the University of Houston. I’m happily married to my wife, Aminta, and we share 2 adult children: Janet and Bryan. Our family has lived in Northwest Houston since 2007. I’ve been grateful and fortunate enough to be elected by the wonderful constituents of House District 135 (Northwest Houston – Cypress and Katy Area), spending four terms in the Texas State Legislature advocating for public education, healthcare, veterans, affordable housing, and public health & safety. My unique background, being the only career mechanical engineer in the Texas Legislature, and my pragmatic “no-BS” approach have earned me respect and credibility across the aisle and across the political spectrum. When I was a new member of the 86th Legislative session, I was named Freshman of the Year by the Legislative Study Group Caucus, a nonpartisan policy analysis group and the second largest caucus in the Texas State House.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Reliable Power: Winter Storm Uri was an epic failure at all levels of government. Gas supply failures during the freeze helped crash our electric grid. When the weather turns brutal, Texans shouldn’t have to cross their fingers and hope the power stays on. I’ll work to implement weatherization requirements for critical gas delivery systems with clear deadlines and audits, and we will hold violators accountable to the maximum extent.Fair, Affordable Gas Utility Rates: Your power bill should be boring and predictable. No junk fees, no decades of storm debt from preventable failures. We’ll demand prudence before pass-throughs, set price-smoothing standards, and make every rider understandable so families can budget and businesses can plan. That means stricter prudence reviews before utilities recover extraordinary costs; no recovery for preventable failures, hedging and storage standards to smooth prices, and ensuring bill transparency with line-item explanations of riders and storm charges in clear language.Texas Energy Leadership & Good Jobs

Texas leads the world in energy because we build and innovate, and work hard. Many energy industry leaders have proven they can be profitable while being responsible to communities. We can help Texas move forward with common-sense “All of the Above” energy strategies. By requiring that we capture gas instead of flaring it, encouraging new plays like geothermal, and helping small operators modernize, we can cut waste, lower bills, and create thousands of skilled, homegrown, good-paying jobs—all by using the know-how Texans already have.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Of course, Texas Energy Policy, and also my other priorities and goals, remain rooted in the same values that originally drew me to politics: affordability for the basic necessities for our working families, improving public education and access to healthcare, justice and human rights for ALL, and fighting bigotry and discrimination in all forms.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

The Texas Railroad Commission is the state agency that regulates oil and natural gas operations in our state. Despite its name, the Commission no longer oversees trains or railroads. Instead, it manages the industries that keep Texas running every day. It regulates Texas oil and natural gas, pipelines, and the fuel that powers our homes and businesses. In other words, this “railroad” agency has nothing to do with choo-choos and everything to do with whether your lights stay on, your bills stay fair, and your water stays clean. The Commission issues permits for oil and gas drilling, oversees the construction and safety of pipelines, and monitors utilities that deliver fuel across the state. It also plays a role in protecting natural resources by setting rules for safe operations and ensuring companies follow environmental standards.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My parents were my first role models. My father was a math teacher who insisted on facts and rigorous data in arguments, and my mother was a very social person who valued kindness and giving grace to others.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Character and Values: People want representatives and leaders who share core values. In my life and in my career, I always operate with Honor, Integrity, Decency, and Respect.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Our first priority as elected officials is to SERVE the PEOPLE who elect us. The Texas Railroad Commission has lost sight of its mission: protecting Texans. Instead, it’s become a pay-to-play playground for oil and gas insiders. I’m running to restore integrity, accountability, and common sense. As a career oilfield engineer, a proven legislator, and a father, I will make sure the Railroad Commission works for the PEOPLE of Texas – not just wealthy special interests and political insiders. That means standing up for the People of Texas against the monied interests, ensuring that the Texas oil and gas industry continues to provide hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs while powering our state and our nation, promoting an “All of the Above” approach to energy production, and striking a sensible balance between environmental concerns and industry activity.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to be remembered as one who served with sound moral and ethical character and hard work, and who genuinely embraced the values of Integrity, kindness, honor, and respect.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I was a paperboy for 2 years between the ages of 12 and 14. I effectively was an independent contractor, managing my own business, which grew in circulation from about 50 customers to over 100 customers. I sold subscriptions door-to-door, managed deliveries and inventory, collected bill payments, and paid for my own supplies.

What responsibilities of this office do you personally consider the most important?

Put simply, the Railroad Commission makes sure Texas families and businesses have reliable energy and that our state’s most important resources are managed responsibly.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

The Texas Railroad Commission should be renamed “The Texas Oil & Natural Gas Commission”. Most Texans wrongly believe that this position regulates railroads because of the name. A huge part of our campaign - and, ultimately, the job when elected - is educating the public on what the RRC actually does - regulate Oil and Natural Gas operations including drilling & production, pipelines, storage and waste management, and of course plugging abandoned and “zombie” wells. The office itself is little-known by default.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

Absolutely, because this is a Government agency that deals with the Texas Legislature. I’m proud to have served on the Energy Resources Committee in the Texas House for half of my time in the Legislature. I am also the only Mechanical Engineer serving in the Texas Legislature, and my professional experience helps guide my approach to legislation impacting all sorts of matters - including oil and gas regulations.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

I’ve worked in the oil and gas industry for over 25 years, and have actually been in the field (unlike most of my opponents running for this position). I have direct experience in most areas of oil & natural gas operations and extensive industry background overall. I understand the impacts of abandoned and zombie wells to land owners and to the environment, I understand the opportunities and risks of producing LNG, and I understand the powers and duties of the RRC - and how they can be used to benefit the people of Texas to ensure a robust and profitable energy industry that is also responsible to neighbors and communities.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Congressman Lloyd Doggett, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher, over two-thirds of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, the University Democrats, Texas Senate Democratic Caucus Chair Carol Alvarado, and many others.

Would a state ballot initiative process be good or bad for your state?

It would be good for Texas, as we would have certain items like Medicaid expansion and marijuana legalization in law by now!

What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?

I’m most proud of my work building teams to accomplish big things, and always helping others around me to grow and develop.

Campaign websiteRosenthal's campaign website stated the following:JON'S PRIORITIESPUTTING TEXAS FIRSTOur Texan First AgendaThe Texas Railroad Commission has lost sight of its mission: protecting Texans. Instead, it’s become a pay-to-play playground for oil and gas insiders. Jon Rosenthal is running to restore integrity, accountability, and common sense. As a career oilfield engineer, a proven legislator, and a father, Jon will make sure the Railroad Commission works for the people of Texas – not just special interests.Keep the Heat and Lights ON & Bring Bills DownWinter Storm Uri was an epic failure at all levels of government. Gas supply failures during the freeze helped crash our electric grid. When the weather turns brutal, Texans shouldn’t have to cross their fingers and hope the power stays on.Reliability isn’t magic – it’s maintenance, standards, and accountability. As an engineer who’s been hands-on in the oilfield for decades, I know how gas delivery systems can fail and I’m an expert on keeping hydrocarbons flowing to power plants when it counts. Our goal is simple: a more reliable system with fewer outages, fewer surprises on your bill, and most importantly a power grid you can trust.● Weatherization Requirements for critical gas production, processing, and pipelines – with deadlines, third-party audits, and fines that actually deter violations.● Reliability scorecards: publish site-level compliance so communities and markets can see who’s ready for extreme weather.● Consumer protection on gas rates: require prudence reviews before companies pass storm costs to customers; block recovery of costs caused by negligence.Real enforcement of existing law: Critical infrastructure mapping & priority rules so fuel keeps flowing to power plants – even during disasters.Putting Texans Over Special InterestsLet’s fight against corruption together. If you’re granting a company’s permit, you shouldn’t be cashing that company’s check – full stop. Texans deserve regulators who answer to them, not to corporate big money donors. We’ll ban industry money, publish who we meet with, and make enforcement visible so decisions are based on facts, not favors.● Ban industry donations to Railroad Commissioners (push statutory change) and adopt an immediate personal pledge to refuse them.● Full transparency: publish calendars, meetings, and recusals; livestream and archive enforcement hearings; plain-English summaries of decisions.Push the Legislature to Rename the agency to the Texas Energy Commission so voters and the general public know what it does.Clean Air, Clean Water, Safe CommunitiesNo Texan should have to choose between a paycheck and their child’s health. Good jobs and clean air can – and must – coexist. We’ll bring modern monitoring, real enforcement, and clear rules so families aren’t breathing toxics or worrying about their tap water. That’s how we protect frontline neighborhoods and rural wells alike.● End routine flaring and venting – permit only true emergencies, with continuous monitoring and swift penalties.Modern leak-detection and repair (LDAR) requirements (optical gas imaging, continuous monitors in hotspots) to stop methane and VOC leaks fast.Groundwater safeguards: baseline and follow-up water testing around high-risk operations; tougher liners and monitoring at waste sites.Stronger setback standards from homes, schools, and hospitals; require best-available control technology in frontline neighborhoods.Stop the Waste & Clean Up the MessFlaring wastes fuel and money; abandoned wells leak methane and threaten land. We’ll make “polluter pays” real – raise surety bonds so cleanup is funded, plug orphan wells at scale, and restore property. That means less pollution while providing more local jobs doing the work.● Turbo-charge orphan well plugging – public dashboards by county; prioritize highest-risk sites; tie plugging contracts to local hiring and apprenticeship.● Raise bonding requirements so operators – not taxpayers – pay to clean up.“No new permits for bad actors” policy: suspend new drilling/injection permits for chronic violators until they remediate.Property Rights & Community SafetyBig projects shouldn’t blindside landowners or gamble with public safety. We’ll put notice, consent, and emergency preparedness back on the side of Texans – so families, ranchers, and first responders have the information and tools to stay safe.● Advance notice & plain-language consent for landowners near proposed waste pits or injection wells; real appeal rights with timelines that favor the public.● Pipeline safety upgrades: high-consequence area mapping, automatic shut-off/remote isolation valves in populated zones, first-responder training funded by operators.H₂S/chemical hazards: require site-specific emergency plans, alarms, and public notification for releases of sour gas and hazardous checmicals.Texas Energy Leadership & Good JobsTexas leads the world in energy because we build and innovate and work hard. Many energy industry leaders have proven they can be profitable while being responsible to communities. We can help Texas move forward with common-sense “All of the Above” energy strategies. By requiring that we capture gas instead of flaring it, encouraging new plays like geothermal, and helping small operators modernize, we can cut waste, lower bills, and create thousands of skilled, homegrown good paying jobs—all by using the know-how Texans already have.● Capture – don’t flare – natural gas with enforceable timelines; support small operators with compliance clinics and tech assistance to install capture and compression.● Repurpose wells & skills for new industries (geothermal, CO₂ storage) – all using Texas know-how.● Implement local jobs requirements where permissible for plugging and remediation contracts; partner with local business and community colleges on paid training.Fair, Affordable Gas Utility RatesYour bill should be boring and predictable. No junk fees, no decades of storm debt from preventable failures. We’ll demand prudence before pass-throughs, set price-smoothing standards, and make every rider understandable so families can budget and businesses can plan.● Stricter prudence reviews before utilities recover extraordinary costs; no recovery for preventable failures.● Hedging and storage standards to smooth volatile prices.● Bill transparency—line-item explanations of riders and storm charges in clear language.A Commission That ListensGovernment should meet you where you are – after work, online, and in the language you speak. We’ll make it easy to be heard and to track action on your concerns with real-time data and simple tools. You shouldn’t need a paid lobbyist to get help from your own government.● Community liaisons in every region; evening and virtual hearings; language access (Spanish, Vietnamese, and more).● 24/7 complaint hotline + text line with tracking numbers and public resolution timelines.● Neighborhood monitoring pilots (low-cost sensors) in frontline areas with public dashboards.— Jon Rosenthal's campaign website (January 16, 2026)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

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Video for [the profile publisher]

Video submitted to BallotpediaReleased September 16, 2020

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I'm Jon Rosenthal. I'm a family man with a lovely wife and 2 adult children first. I'm a Mechanical Engineer who worked in Oil & gas for over 25 years doing everything from equipment design to engineering management to large scale project engineering and project management. I first ran for office in 2018 and unseated a 24-year GOP incumbent. I'm a fierce advocate for public education with the long term goal to overhaul how we test children in schools. I'm all-in with labor and believe all workers deserve a fair shot! I also prioritize access to healthcare and criminal justice reform, and I am driven to fight against bigotry and discrimination in all forms.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I left industry and got in to politics to serve our district and the people of Texas. I'm an engineer before being a politician!Integrity and values are my best qualifications. I'm guided by logic, kindness, honor, decency, and respect.My focus is on policy to benefit ALL of the people of Texas, and that is why I was named Freshman of the Year by the Legislative Study Group Caucus

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I originally got in to politics to advance public education in Texas. Education must be properly funded from the State side so that we can reduce the burden of individual property taxes. And we MUST overhaul the standardized testing system, and replace STAAR with a meaningful and valid measurement . I'm also passionate about access to healthcare, especially for women and ESPECIALLY for women of color. And I am driven in life to fight against bigotry and discrimination in all forms. We need equity justice and we must seriously confront systemic racism. Disadvantaged communities must get a fair shot! I also am committed to work for criminal justice reforms. ALL humans deserve the same basic HUMAN rights and I will always fight for you ALL.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to help revolutionize the way we test students in our public schools

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The first major historical event I remember was the Lunar Landing in 1969. I was almost 9 years old and I was filled with wonder and excitement and I was inspired to pursue a career in Science. At first I wanted to be a rocket scientist and I got into model rocketry. I learned to design and build model rockets and even entered a few competitions when I was a pre-teen. of course I eventually shifted to Mechanical Engineering and have truly loved my career in industry and all the diverse experiences I've had.

Also, I was almost 11 years old when President Nixon was impeached in 1974. I remember his landslide election and how upset my parents were because they thought Nixon was "a crook". And I've always taken that moment in history as a lesson that personal integrity is much more important and valuable than winning at any cost. Nobody can ever take away your personal integrity, but it can be shattered in an instant if you choose to give it up!

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

It's Your Thing (Isley Bothers)

What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?

In Texas, we are faced with some serious and complex challenges right now. The first of which is getting the Covid pandemic under control so that our economy can again flourish. Of course I believe the path to defeating Covid is to rely on science, trust the experts, and evolve our approach as the science evolves. We need to relentlessly pursue expanding testing and reducing turnaround times for test results and we must implement effective contact tracing as well. .

Other challenges for the near future include budgeting for the next biennium in the face of a massive $4.7 Billion dollar shortfall. We need creative solutions and we must broaden and strengthen our revenue streams in order to preserve the gains we've made in funding public education. .

And of course the redistricting exercise is slated for 2021 and that will be a major challenge. I always advocate for FAIR maps that collect communities of common interest within geographic areas. Again, we must end partisan gerrymandering for the health of our democracy!

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Absolutely, it is vital to build these relationships. I value the friendships I've already made in the legislature and I look forward to strengthening those and also to developing new relationships as well. I especially value the friendships I have with legislators who have very different views from my own. It broadens our perspective to engage with others who think differently, and it helps us find areas of commonality and bipartisanship. We must be able to engage in respectful discourse, especially when we disagree.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

Ideally, redistricting should be conducted by an independent nonpartisan board that also relies on input from communities. Open source computer programs should draft maps, and district boundaries can have small manual adjustments if necessary. Partisan gerrymandering must be ended in Texas, and in the USA. I see gerrymandering as a great threat to our system of democracy because ALL people should have a fair shot at representation.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

No. Not at all. I want to accomplish some tangible goals (such as overhaul of the testing system for students in public schools), and then I'd respectfully like to return to my career as an engineer.  :)

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

I decided to work full time as the Representative for my District and I am committed to helping constituents at every opportunity. I have so many stories to tell about people I've worked with and how I've been able to help, and also stories of people who are trying to accomplish wonderful goals and stories of working with younger kids and students to help inspire and engage them. It is the best part of this job in many ways!

What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

1) Public Education - Finance and Governance

2) Infrastructure - Flood Prevention and Highway Construction

3) Healthcare - Lowering cost and improving access[3][4]

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?

Public schools first - because this is our future. We must provide the best education possible to ALL of our kids, and that also means taking care of our teachers. You never know where the next MLK, Marie Curie, or Elon Musk will come from, we don't want to miss that! Also, our schools should better prepare our young people to enter the workforce. Not every child will go to college, but every one can make an honest living and contribute. And the state must once again pay a fair share for school finance, and not lean ever more heavily on private citizens' property taxes - so we must overhaul the public education finance system. Next - Healthcare has become prohibitively expensive for too many people in Texas, we need to care for our citizens. Too many folks will forgo necessary preventive care because they can't afford it, and lives will ultimately be lost because of this. Lastly - we in Houston have felt the effects of flooding too many times, so we know we need to be better prepared. Projects and programs have been in planning stages for far too long, it's time to take action.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[4]

[the profile publisher] also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Jon Rosenthal answered the following:

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Our elected officials need to operate with strong and positive values, and strive to represent and benefit *ALL* of the people they represent. It is important to embrace values like Honesty, Integrity, Decency, and Respect.[4]

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I'm a career engineer, so my training is all about seeking reasonable, data-based solutions to complex issues. I will always make the highest priority of taking care of our PEOPLE, and helping to solve the problems that face our communities.[4]