Bo French, the Republican nominee for the Texas Railroad Commission, is facing widespread criticism from members of his own party after sharing a post on X that depicted non-white students celebrating the University of Texas's football victory and claimed the state's institutions have been "overrun by illegal aliens and foreign nationals."
US Senator John Cornyn called on fellow Republicans to denounce the post, stating that such rhetoric threatens the future of the GOP and that "great political parties self-destruct" by normalizing intolerance. He urged elected officials to condemn the post, regardless of political inconvenience.
Texas Representative Jared Patterson described French's post as "racist" and "wrong," asserting that it is un-Christian and un-conservative to label young students celebrating a university victory as a "problem" based on their skin color. Patterson also noted that the Texas Railroad Commission regulates the oil and gas industry and does not handle immigration policy.
Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows and Republican Representatives Lacey Hull and Jeff Leach also called for French to delete the post. Leach shared a personal photo of his son with friends at the game, stating, "Bo thinks it's a 'problem' they don't all look like and have the same color as Brady. I think that's racist - and it makes me sick." Hull expressed that the post "breaks my heart" and that she sees "college kids cheering on their football teams. I see Texans."
French's Democratic opponent, State Representative Jon Rosenthal, also condemned the post, arguing that French, who he characterized as spending his time "sorting our student section by skin color," has "no business regulating anything in TX."
Despite the backlash, French has reportedly doubled down, labeling Cornyn and other critics as "RINOs (Republicans in Name Only)" and accusing them of being "anti-American." He claimed they are "mad that Texas Republicans are starting to put America First" and that institutions are overrun due to RINOs who have "cheered for them over our own citizens."
This is not the first time French has faced controversy. Previously, he has called for the deportation of 100 million Americans and campaigned on anti-Islamic rhetoric, vowing to "stop the Islamic invasion of Texas" and "end DEI's stranglehold on Texas oil." His campaign website highlights him as a "proven conservative fighter who has stood up to the Chinese Communist Party and radical Islam."
Bo French is the Republican nominee for the Texas Railroad Commission, an elected statewide office. In July, a poll indicated French held a three-point lead over his Democratic opponent, Rosenthal, though a significant portion of respondents, including self-identified Republicans, Democrats, and independents, remained unsure about their choice.