on march 2, 2016, burnam ran last with 269,853 votes (24.8 percent) in a three-candidate field in the democratic primary election for the seat on the texas railroad commission being vacated by the republican david j. porter. the two remaining democratic candidates, cody garrett, who polled 382,647 votes (35.2 percent), and grady yarbrough, with 434,137 votes (40 percent), will met in the may 24 runoff election to choose the party nominee for the position.