Bo French Wins Texas Railroad Commissioner Republican Runoff Over Incumbent

Bo French has secured the Republican nomination for Texas Railroad Commissioner after narrowly defeating incumbent Jim Wright in a closely watched primary runoff. With 95% of votes counted, French led Wright by just 1.2 percentage points, or fewer than 15,000 votes, according to the Associated Press. Wright has not yet conceded the race.

The Texas Railroad Commission, despite its name, primarily regulates the state’s oil and natural gas industry. The three-member body plays a critical role in setting regulations and ensuring safety in one of the nation’s largest energy sectors.

French’s victory marks a significant shift within the Texas GOP. He ran a campaign focused less on the technical duties of the commission and more on far-right cultural and political issues. French pledged to combat “DEI, overbearing regulation, and the influence of radical Islam and the [Chinese Communist Party] in Texas oil.” He also supported the deportation of 100 million people and frequently invoked anti-Muslim rhetoric.

Before his statewide run, French chaired the Tarrant County Republican Party but resigned after controversy over a social media post questioning whether Jews or Muslims posed a greater threat to the United States.

In contrast, Wright emphasized his extensive experience in the oil and gas industry and positioned himself as a “lifelong conservative, and a proven advocate for Texas energy.” He had the backing of prominent Republicans including Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, and Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows, as well as financial support from major oil and gas industry figures and donors like Dallas Mavericks owner Miriam Adelson.

French’s campaign was supported by West Texas oil billionaires Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks, who spent over $1 million on television ads and have sought to push the Texas GOP further right. These donors represent smaller, independent oil firms that opposed Wright’s limited environmental regulations addressing wastewater hazards linked to fracking.

Governor Abbott warned that French’s election could harm the state’s oil industry. The race highlighted divisions within the oil sector, with large multinational companies backing Wright and smaller independents rallying behind French.

French will face Democrat State Representative Jon Rosenthal, whom he has labeled a “radical Democrat,” and Libertarian Arthur DiBianca in the November general election. Republicans have held the Railroad Commission for three decades, with the last Democrat leaving office in 1995.