Katherine Culbert

Katherine Culbert was born in Herkimer, New York. She earned a bachelor's degree from the State University of New York in 1997 and a graduate degree from the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law in 2020. Her career experience includes working as an engineer. Culbert has been affiliated with the Society of Women Engineers, Women's Energy Network, Climate Reality Project, League of Women Voters, and Commission Shift.[1]

Katherine Culbert did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

Culbert's campaign website stated the following:

KATHERINE'S TOP 3 PRIORITIES

Affordability

Texans should have access to an energy system that is reliable and cost-conscious. Katherine has pledged to pursue policies that help prevent unnecessary rate burdens and ensure that families, businesses, and local communities benefit from a stable and efficient energy market.

Adaptability

Texas must be prepared for a rapidly changing energy landscape. From new technologies to shifting market demands, Katherine believes the Railroad Commission must be capable of modernizing operations and planning for long-term resilience.

Accountability

Katherine is calling for greater transparency in the agency’s regulatory processes. She maintains that Texans deserve clear oversight, responsible stewardship of natural resources, and a Commission that is open about how decisions are made and how public input is used.

[2]

—Katherine Culbert's campaign website (2026)[3]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a Chemical Engineer who has spent my career in Process Safety Engineering. I work for an oil & gas company, and I understand the importance of the oil & gas industry to the Texas economy and to our workforce. I have been working in Process Safety for over 20 years for both oil & gas companies and chemical companies. For those that are not privy to the industry, process safety deals with keeping the hazardous materials in the pipe or vessels and not being released into the community. Process Safety works to protect workers and the environment to allow companies to operate without doing undue harm. I have worked for Upstream, Midstream, and Downstream companies. In addition to my staff position, I also own a consulting firm specializing in Pipeline and Process Safety Regulatory Compliance. I am uniquely qualified for this position due to my experience in the industry that the RRC regulates. Currently, none of the current Commissioners have industry experience.

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?

1. Protection of the Environment. I am deeply committed to operating with the highest regard for safety, protecting both our workers and communities. The Railroad Commission’s mission is “…to serve Texas by our concern for personal and community safety,” this means strict adherence to safety protocols in every aspect of oil and gas operations, ensuring not only compliance but also a proactive approach to preventing incidents and environmental damage. I want all oil and gas workers to go home at the end of the day in the same or better condition as when they came to work. And I want industry to care about the communities they operate in, and to protect all of Texas to make sure we have a healthy environment for kids to grow up in.2.

Corporate Accountability. I believe in strict accountability for corporations in the oil and gas industry. It is essential to question and scrutinize their actions, particularly when they seek exceptions to regulations. We must make these multi-billion-dollar corporations consider the impact their operations will have on surrounding communities and the risks they pose. Right now, corporations ask for extensions for their venting and flaring permits and the RRC grants them without question. The Commission has only denied 44 out of more than 8,000 flaring exceptions since May 2021, according to their own database. That is not making companies follow the rules and it is hurting all of us in Texas and beyond.3.

Transparency. I aim to challenge the status quo and question how decisions are made, especially when it comes to corporate influence and campaign contributions. It is vital that the Commission’s actions are driven by the best interests of Texans, not by corporate donations. I will work to allow for every decision made to be transparent, fair, and make sure the safety and well-being of our communities comes first.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am most passionate about environmental justice. While working in the League of Women Voters Rising Stars program, I worked diligently on a program to address environmental justice in the Houston area. We were able to better understand the issues facing certain neighborhoods and worked to help them have a voice in local government. And I led the Environment huddle with Indivisible TxLege to support good environmental bills and speak out against bills that would damage the Texas environment. Working with Commission Shift helped me connect with more residents across the state to understand the impacts the oil and gas industry is having on other marginalized communities.

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 arguably the most powerful agency in Texas. The oil and gas industry is the major economic driver for the Texas economy and regulating it is important for protecting natural resources, the environment, and the people of Texas.

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

One quality that I possess is an ability to ask questions before making decisions. I do not blindly accept things at face value, I dig to better understand issues and to force others to think more about what they are deciding on.

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

The core responsibilities of the Railroad Commission are to control the available natural resources in a manner that does not harm Texans nor the environment and that allows for long-term economic prosperity for everyone in the state, not only an elite few.

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

The biggest thing that people should be aware of is that the Railroad Commission has nothing to do with railroads. The agency has no oversight for anything dealing with rail travel.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Financial transparency currently does not exist at the Texas Railroad Commission. The current Commissioners accept large campaign donations from parties with enforcement before the commission, and it is no surprise that these multi-billion dollar corporations are not held to any standards to protect Texans. Additionally, some of the current Commissioners get royalties from the industry they regulate, causing them to act in their own self-interest rather than in the interest of those who elected them.

We need to have strict recusal rules within the Railroad Commission to make sure Commissioners are not harming our state's resources for personal gain.

Campaign website

Culbert’s campaign website stated the following:

KATHERINE'S TOP 3 PRIORITIES

SAFETY & ENVIRONMENT

As a Process Safety Engineer with over 20 years of experience, I am deeply committed to operating our industry with the highest regard for safety, protecting both our workers and communities. The Railroad Commission's mission should be to serve Texas through a concern for personal and community safety. This means strict adherence to safety protocols in every aspect of oil and gas operations, ensuring not only compliance but also a proactive approach to preventing accidents and environmental damage.

CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY

I believe in strict accountability for corporations in the oil and gas industry. It's essential to question and scrutinize their actions, particularly when they seek exceptions to regulations. We must ensure these multi-billion dollar corporations are considering the impact their operations will have on surrounding communities and the risks they might pose. We have over 8,000 documented orphan wells in Texas, and this number only scratches the surface. I am determined to enforce policies where companies are held accountable for safely plugging wells, not just for a few years, but indefinitely, protecting our state's groundwater, air quality, and quality of life for Texans.

TRANSPARENCY & ACCOUNTIBILITY

Transparency within the Texas Railroad Commission is a cornerstone of my campaign. I aim to challenge the status quo and question how decisions are made, especially when it comes to corporate influence and campaign contributions. It's vital that the Commission's actions are driven by the best interests of Texans, not by corporate donations. As your Commissioner, I will work tirelessly to ensure that every decision made by the Commission is transparent, fair, and puts the safety and well-being of our communities first.[2]

—Katherine Culbert’s campaign website (2024)[4]