Who is Bo French, GOP nominee for Texas railroad commissioner?
Former Tarrant County GOP chair Bo French has won the Republican nomination for a seat on Texas Railroad Commission, the agency that oversees Texas’ oil and gas industry, according to unofficial results.
French maintained a tight lead against incumbent Jim Wright, a fifth-generation rancher running for his second term whose primary campaign priorities included reducing red tape for new oil production, plugging orphan wells, and defending landowner rights. The two candidates were sent to a runoff after the March 3 primary, in which French received 31.75% of the vote and Wright received 32.1%.
The Texas Railroad Commission was established in 1891, but it has not controlled Texas’ railroads since 2005. The agency oversees Texas’ oil and natural gas industry.
French was raised in Midland in a family has been in the oil industry for 80 years, according to his campaign website. He attended TCU, according to his LinkedIn.
He took his position as Tarrant County GOP chair in 2023.
His website lists six campaign priorities, including “End CCP Influence over Our Oil Industry” and “End DEI’s Stranglehold on Texas Oil.”
French focused his campaign against diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. He has been a part of a growing group of conservatives warning of a perceived “Islamification” of Texas. He resigned as chairman of the Tarrant County GOP and announced his candidacy in November 2025 in a post on X.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick had called for French’s resignation as Tarrant County GOP chairman months earlier, after he made a post asking his followers in a X poll whether Jews or Muslims were the “bigger threat to America.” He deleted the poll, saying “some people clearly misunderstood the intent,” and said he regretted posting it. Patrick endorsed Wright in an X post on May 5. Gov. Greg Abbott had also endorsed Wright.
French posts frequently to an audience that has grown to 55,000 followers. Hours before polls closed on May 26, he posted calling Wright “Jihadi Jim.”
French has urged the government to “denaturalize and deport all the third world savages who hate our country” and asked President Donald Trump for the denaturalization and deportation of every Muslim in America.
French has been endorsed by Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare, Turning Point Action, and the True Texas Project. He has appeared on “War Room,” the podcast hosted by former chief White House strategist and conservative media figure Steve Bannon.
Gov. Greg Abbott endorsed Wright, who has joined him at multiple stops in Texas.
French will now face Democratic state Rep. Jon Rosenthal, of Houston, in November.
