In the lead-up to the GOP primary runoffs in May, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a stark warning regarding Bo French, a Republican candidate for the Texas Railroad Commission, which oversees the state’s oil and gas industry. Abbott stated that French’s agenda could jeopardize Texas’s significant advancements in oil and gas production, while actively campaigning for French’s rival, Jim Wright.
French faced strong opposition from various Texas Republican leaders who sought to prevent his ascension within the party. However, none of these Republicans addressed French’s extensive history of making racist, antisemitic, homophobic, ableist, and anti-trans remarks on social media, including a controversial statement made last October referring to an impending reduction in SNAP services as “National Chimp Out Day.” Ultimately, French emerged victorious in the primary, prompting Abbott and the Republican Party to rally behind him.
As the midterm elections approach, French is encountering a wave of criticism, even from within his own party. This backlash was intensified after he shared an image of predominantly South Asian students at the University of Texas at Austin celebrating a football victory, captioning it with a comment about “how many Americans have been displaced by foreigners.” Despite widespread condemnation from fellow Republicans, including accusations of racism, none have withdrawn their endorsements, while some party leaders, such as Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, have chosen to remain silent, and others have issued vague criticisms that do not directly confront French or his remarks.
French has not responded to requests for comment but has publicly doubled down on his position, using the controversy to solicit donations and claiming to have received significant support.
Among his most vocal critics is Representative Jeff Leach of Plano, who urged French to remove the contentious post, sharing a photo of his own son at the game and stating that French’s perspective reflects a racist viewpoint. Despite his criticisms, Leach confirmed he still intends to vote for French, citing his commitment to supporting Republican candidates across the ballot.
House Speaker Dustin Burrows also called for French to retract his comments, labeling the post as demeaning based on race or ethnicity and asserting that it crossed a line. When asked about his plans to endorse French, Burrows emphasized his unwavering support for the full Republican ticket.
So far, only two prominent Republican figures have indicated they will not support French. Karl Rove expressed his intent to vote for French’s Democratic opponent, marking a significant departure from his usual party allegiance. Rove criticized the growing presence of individuals like French within the GOP and stated that they are detrimental to the party’s integrity.
On Thursday, U.S. Senator John Cornyn, who was the first Republican to publicly denounce French’s tweet, confirmed he would not vote for French, expressing concerns that French’s behavior could harm the entire Republican ticket. He mentioned that he might leave his ballot blank rather than support French.
Democrats are eager to capitalize on the situation, aiming for their first statewide victory in Texas since 1994. They argue that Republican leaders had numerous opportunities to distance themselves from French and that their silence is a deliberate choice. Democratic strategist Matt Angle remarked that French has become an influential figure within the Republican base, causing hesitance among top nominees to openly criticize him.
French’s controversial history includes a series of inflammatory remarks made prior to his Railroad Commission candidacy, ranging from disparaging comments about Democrats to calls for the deportation of certain individuals based on their ethnicity or religion. He has faced scrutiny for advocating extreme measures, including the deportation of millions of undocumented immigrants.
Despite the backlash, a notable number of supporters have emerged in defense of French, including Brandon Hall, a member of the state board of education, who stated his support for French is not based on race but on preserving Texas’s way of life.
