Live results: Texas railroad commissioner runoff election
As polls close in Texas primary runoff elections, ex-Tarrant County GOP chair Bo French is leading in the race to unseat incumbent Jim Wright on the Texas Railroad Commission, which oversees the state’s oil and gas industry.
With 24.01% of polling locations reporting, Bo French had 52.4% of the vote, and Jim Wright had 47.6%.
French, has focused his campaign on diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, and has been a part of a growing section of conservatives warning of a perceived “Islamification” of Texas. He resigned as chairman of the Tarrant County GOP and announced his candidacy in Nov. 2025 in a post on X, where French has made many inflammatory social media posts.
Established in 1891, the Texas Railroad Commission has jurisdiction over the nation’s hub for oil and gas production. In addition to regulating production, the commission also oversees “pipeline transporters, natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline industry, natural gas utilities, the LP-gas industry, critical natural gas infrastructure, and coal and uranium surface mining operations,” according to the commission’s website.
Three commissioners serve staggered six-year terms. Wright is currently the chairman of the commission.
In June 2025, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called for French’s resignation after he made a post asking his followers 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.
French and Wright 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 winner of Tuesday’s runoff election will face Democratic state Rep. Jon Rosenthal, of Cypress, in November.
This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 7:11 PM.
