Chris Paddie is an American politician and former lobbyist from Marshall, Texas. A Republican, he previously represented Texas House District 9 in East Texas from 2013 to 2022. Notable roles include former mayor and city commissioner of Marshall, general manager of KMHT radio , chairman of the Greater Marshall Chamber of Commerce, and president of the Boys and Girls Club of the Big Pines. He served as vice-chair of the Texas Energy Caucus and Young Texans Legislative Caucus, and was a member of the Texas Conservative Coalition, TEA Party Caucus, Texas Tourism Caucus, and Fine Arts Caucus. In 2025, he was fined $105,500 by the Texas Ethics Commission for violating revolving door lobbying laws after leaving office.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Born in Center, Texas, and raised in Carthage; graduated from Carthage High School; earned a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Distribution from Texas A&M University.
• Political Experience: Elected to Texas House District 9 in 2012 and reelected in 2014; served on House Energy Resources Committee, House Land and Resource Management Committee, Joint Committee on Coastal Barrier Systems, House Energy Subcommittee on Seismic Activity, and Select Committee on Health Care Education and Training; House appointee to Texas Bioenergy Policy Council. Did not seek reelection in 2021; registered as a lobbyist in 2022. Earned endorsements from groups like Texas Alliance for Life, Texas Medical Association, and Texas Association of Realtors; honored as Courageous Conservative by Texas Conservative Coalition and Champion of Free Enterprise by Texas Association of Business.