Texas Republican candidate Bo French has come under fire for posting racially charged remarks targeting University of Texas students, thrusting him into national scrutiny and exposing divisions within the state GOP as midterm elections approach. French, running for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission, a powerful three-member body regulating the state’s oil and gas industry, drew widespread condemnation after describing South Asian students at the university as “foreigners” who had “displaced” Americans.
The posts, which surfaced Sunday following the university’s football team’s unexpected comeback victory, have strained efforts by Texas Republican leaders to present a unified front. While some prominent GOP figures denounced French’s rhetoric, others either offered muted responses or remained silent.
Governor Greg Abbott criticized French’s “divisive rhetoric” but reiterated his support for maintaining stringent immigration policies in Texas. The Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows called on French to remove the posts, and Senator John Cornyn condemned the messages as “intolerance and racism.” Notably, Karl Rove, a longtime Republican strategist, reportedly declared he would vote for a Democrat for the first time in decades because of the incident. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, however, did not comment publicly on the controversy despite previously calling for French’s resignation over past inflammatory remarks.
French has a history of provocative statements targeting immigrants, Muslims, and minority groups. Last summer, he drew backlash for posting a social media poll asking whether Jews or Muslims posed a greater threat to America—a post he deleted but insisted was not antisemitic. His past comments include denigrating Native Americans and expressing intentions to “denaturalize and deport” all Muslims in the United States.
Despite opposition from key Texas Republicans who supported incumbent Jim Wright in the Railroad Commission runoff, French secured the nomination. At a political convention in Dallas last week, French appeared confident about his campaign, dismissing Democratic efforts to portray him as an easy target. In interviews following the backlash, French denied his posts were racist and blamed Republicans who did not endorse his views for attacking him.
The controversy has also energized Democrats, who see vulnerability in French and other hardline Republicans such as Don Huffines, another candidate for a statewide office linked to the Texas comptroller’s office. Huffines, who declined to comment on French’s posts, has been criticized by his Democratic opponent, state senator Sarah Eckhardt, for tacitly endorsing the hardline rhetoric by remaining silent.
Democrats believe the rift among Republicans could open pathways to win statewide offices in Texas, where Democrats have not succeeded in such contests for over three decades. Jon Rosenthal, French’s Democratic opponent for the Railroad Commission seat, described receiving numerous threats linked to French’s supporters, some targeting him for his Jewish faith. French dismissed Rosenthal’s religious identity, a remark Rosenthal condemned.
The episode highlights growing tensions within Texas’s Republican Party between establishment leaders and more hardline, controversial figures as the state approaches a critical election cycle. French’s case underscores the challenges GOP officials face in balancing political unity against backlash over extremist rhetoric.