Tarrant County GOP Chair Bo French launches bid for statewide office
A North Texas Republican Party chair known for incendiary social media posts is looking to statewide office.
Tarrant County Republican Party Chair Bo French on Wednesday announced a bid for the Railroad Commission of Texas. Despite what its name may suggest, the state commission oversees Texas’ oil and gas industry. He also resigned from his GOP chairman position, French said in a post on X and in a text. The local party’s executive committee is set to select a new chair on Nov. 22.
The Railroad Commission is made up of three commissioners, who serve staggered six-year terms. The commissioners select who will serve as chairman.
Chairman Jim Wright and Commissioners Christi Craddick and Wayne Christian, all of whom are Republicans, compose its members. Wright’s commissioner seat is up for reelection in 2026, and he is running for reelection.
“Texas oil and gas made America great and literally fueled the fight for freedom across the world,” French said in a statement he posted to X. “With Iran and radical Islamists attacking our allies in the Middle East, the Chinese Communist Party pushing its agenda worldwide, and the radical Green New Scam artists waging war on domestic energy production, our state needs a strong leader who will fight back. I’m running for Railroad Commissioner to put American citizens, American interests, and American energy first.”
French has faced backlash over social media posts during his tenure as Tarrant County GOP chair — a position he assumed in October 2023.
In late October, French shared posts that critics called racist.
“November 1, 2025 is National Chimp Out Day. It’s going to be lit,” French said, adding in a comment: “(N)o SNAP!”
Nov. 1 was the day SNAP benefits were expiring amid the government shutdown.
“Let’s be clear: in 2025, there is no excuse — none — for any public figure to liken African Americans or any people of color to animals,” said Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons, an Arlington Democrat. “That’s not political speech. That’s racism, plain and simple.”
French said the phrase means “freaking out” and isn’t racist.
“I talk about EBT and SNAP and y’all immediately think I am talking about black people,” French said in a text. “I talk about social unrest and riots and y’all immediately think I am talking about black people. You are the racists.”
Criticisms have also come from fellow Republicans. Notably, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and other Republican officials called for his resignation after the GOP chair polled X users on whether Jews or Muslims were the “bigger threat to America.”
“Bo French’s words do not reflect my values nor the values of the Republican Party,” Patrick said on X on June 27. “Antisemitism and religious bigotry have no place in Texas. I am calling for the immediate resignation and replacement of @BoFrenchTX as @tarrantgop Chairman.”
French at the time said he was “misunderstood” and regretted the post.
French has also been criticized for using slurs to referring to gay people and people with disabilities, as well as anti-Muslim posts.
State Rep. John Rosenthal, a Houston Democrat, previously announced a Democratic primary bid for railroad commissioner.
Craddick is running for Texas comptroller in 2026, but could keep her Railroad Commission seat if she loses the election, according to The Texas Tribune.
This isn’t French’s first time running for a state office. He previously challenged Rep. Charlie Geren, a Fort Worth Republican, for the Texas House, but did not advance beyond Republican primaries.
This story was originally published November 12, 2025 at 9:21 AM.
