Convenience Big Store: A very Texas twist to GOP presidential debate

Drilling in on a key issue

The Texas oil industry had to love what it was hearing on the stage during the first Republican Presidential debate.

"We're going to open up all energy production, we will be energy dominant again in this country," Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said within minutes of the debate starting on Wednesday night.

Then came Ohio businessman Vivek Ramaswamy: "This isn't that complicated guys: unlock American energy. Drill, frack, burn coal, embrace nuclear," he said to a roar of the crowd in Wisconsin.

And even though Donald Trump skipped the debate, he sent a video message to reporters via email minutes after DeSantis's comments outlining how he'll fight to defend the oil and gas industry.

Obviously, no state has more at stake when it comes to talking about the oil and gas industry. While the state's economy has diversified over the decades, the industry still has more than 480,000 workers directly in the industry, according to the Texas Oil & Gas Association.

But while Republicans have warned Biden is a threat to the industry, some economic data is showing that hasn't been the case so far. The number of jobs and wages have both risen over the last year and the latest oil rig counts show Texas has more than 300 rigs operating compared to 161 when he took office.

Check out my latest story for Biden's reactions to the jabs and more of what Trump had to say.

Jeremy Wallace, Texas politics reporter

jeremy.wallace@houstonchronicle.com

Who's up, who's down

Up: Steve McCraw.

The director of the Texas Department of Public Safety is getting a big raise. The Public Safety Commission on Thursday agreed to give McCraw a $45,437 raise, bumping his salary to $345,250. "We cannot pay you enough to do this important job, so thank you for what you are doing," Chairman Steven P. Mach said.

Down: Pablo Vegas.

The CEO of ERCOT warned that there was a "high likelihood" the state's power grid will be operating under emergency conditions Thursday evening as they expected to have more demand for power than the actual supply available - something that hasn't happened since the 2021 winter storms that resulted in rolling power outages.

What do you think? Hit reply and let me know.

What else is going on in Texas

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during the fifth Texas Values Faith Freedom Forum held at Great Hills Baptist Church in Austin in TX, on Sept. 23, 2022.

Photo by: Josie Norris/Staff Photographer

Witnesses paint Ken Paxton as 'stingy' ahead of impeachment trial

Former aides have said Paxton talked about money frequently and was susceptible to outsiders who wanted to influence how he ran his office.

Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy talks with Sean Hannity in the spin room after a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by FOX News Channel Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, in Milwaukee.

Photo by: Morry Gash, AP

Ramaswamy raises $450,000 in first hours after GOP debate

A spokeswoman for Vivek Ramaswamy says the biotech entrepreneur's campaign has taken in $450,000 since the debate Wednesday night.

Adrian Garcia, Commissioner Precinct 2, left, and Rodney Ellis, Commissioner Precinct 1, right, are shown during Commissioners Court, 1001 Preston St., Tuesday, June 6, 2023, in Houston.

Photo by: Melissa Phillip, Staff Photographer

County sheriff asks Commissioners Court for funding to boost pay

Because of understaffing, overtime for jail employees currently makes up 16 percent of the overall labor budget for the sheriff's office.

SAISD Police Chief Chief Johnny Reyes talks about the lockdown yesterday before a redistricting town hall meeting at Jefferson High School. The meeting comes a day after a lockdown at the same school drew hundreds desperate to get their children out on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022.

Photo by: Ronald Cortes

Texas armed security law frustrates San Antonio school districts

SAISD, Northside and Judson are among those that won't have enough officers by the time House Bill 3 takes effect.

Pick of the day

Pence went after Vivek Ramaswamy during Wednesday's debate, painting him as too inexperienced to be the next president of the United States.

What else I'm reading

Alexa Ura at the Texas Tribune writes about how family legacies and the state's Jim Crow past underlie a fight over mineral rights on a stretch of South Texas scrubland. The story details how descendants of a prominent white family and a formerly enslaved couple are fighting over ownership of a 147.5-acre tract that has bound and divided generations of their families.