Affairs & Military Installations Committee. Staples was unopposed for the Republican nomination for Agriculture Commissioner in 2006 when the incumbent Susan Combs instead was elected Texas Comptroller to succeed Carole Strayhorn. Staples defeated Democrat Hank Gilbert and Libertarian Clay Woolam in the November 7, 2006, general election. He received 2,307,406 votes (54.77 percent), a margin of 547,000 votes over Gilbert. In 2010, Staples ran for re-election as Agriculture Commissioner and won with more than 60 percent of the votes, again against Democrat Hank Gilbert. Staples explained that in his role as commissioner he is compelled to tell the story of agricultural success: "It's up to us to engage with consumers because we know there are those who do not appreciate the work that's being done and what that means for available and affordable food supply." On September 18, Staples announced his resignation to become the president of the Texas Oil & Gas Association. 2014 primary for lieutenant governor Though Staples enlisted baseball great Nolan Ryan as his campaign chairman, he finished third in the primary for lieutenant governor with 235,981 votes (17.8 percent). Positions Same-sex Marriage In 2003, Staples sponsored a bill that prohibited the State of Texas from recognizing same-sex marriages, then again in 2005, sponsored and campaigned for another bill that successfully amended the Texas Constitution to limit marriage to one man and one woman. Electoral history 2014 2010 Texas general election, 2006: Texas Commissioner of Agriculture[4] Party Candidate Votes % -Republican Todd Staples 2,9573,406 60.82% -Democratic Hank Gilbert 1,738,456 35.79% -Libertarian Clay Woolam 164,035 3.37% Turnout 4,856,266 2006 2002 2000 2000 References External links Campaign site 1963 births Living people People from Palestine, Texas People from Austin, Texas Texas A&M University alumni Republican Party Texas state senators Republican Party members of the Texas House of Representatives Texas city council members Agriculture commissioners of Texas Ranchers from Texas Farmers from Texas Baptists from Texas 21st-century American politicians