With late lead in runoff for railroad commissioner, Bo French looks toward November
As Bo French held a razor-thin lead in the Republican primary runoff for Texas railroad commissioner, he thanked his supporters and looked toward November after Decision Desk HQ declared him the winner.
With 87.62% of polling locations reporting, French had 50.7% of the vote and incumbent Jim Wright had 49.3%. The three-member commission oversees the state’s oil and gas industry.
“I am deeply grateful for the support of TX Republicans across our state,” French posted on X at around 11:45 p.m. Tuesday night. “Our campaign focused on defending oil and gas, and putting America First—and that’s exactly what I will continue fighting for as we turn our attention to radical Democrat Jon Rosenthal.”
A spokesperson for Wright’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
French focused his campaign against 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 November 2025 in a post on X, where French has made many inflammatory 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.
Three commissioners serve staggered six-year terms. Wright is the chairman of the commission.
In June 2025, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called for French’s resignation as chairman of the Tarrant County Republican Party after French made a social media post asking his followers whether Jews or Muslims were the “bigger threat to America.” French 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, on Nov. 3.
This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 7:11 PM.
