# Oil industry stays quiet on Bo French's racist posts > The Railroad Commission candidate's inflammatory comments draw GOP condemnation but silence from the industry he'd regulate. - Title: Oil industry stays quiet on Bo French's racist posts - Summary: The Railroad Commission candidate's inflammatory comments draw GOP condemnation but silence from the industry he'd regulate. Major oil companies are avoiding… - Keywords: bo french, texas railroad commission, oil and gas industry, exxonmobil, chevron, txoga, jim wright, katherine rosenthal, tim dunn, farris wilks, permian basin, texas politics - Source: The Texas Tribune — https://feeds.texastribune.org/link/16799/17464965/bo-french-oil-gas-industry-texas - Author: Carlos Nogueras Ramos - Published: 2026-09-17T22:59:26+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: bo french, texas railroad commission, oil and gas industry, exxonmobil, chevron, txoga, jim wright, katherine rosenthal, tim dunn, farris wilks, permian basin, texas politics ## French's racist post sparks outcry Bo French, running for Texas Railroad Commission, posted racist comments targeting South Asian students at a Longhorns game. GOP leaders condemned him. ## A history of inflammatory comments French has a long record of online attacks against Jews, Muslims, Native Americans, South Asian Americans and the LGBTQ+ community. ## Big oil refuses to comment ExxonMobil, Chevron and Occidental Petroleum didn't respond to questions about French's posts. The industry he'd regulate stays silent. ## TXOGA condemns after endorsing The Texas Oil and Gas Association endorsed French days before his latest post, then condemned it. They called respect a cornerstone of industry values. > Respect is a cornerstone of our industry's core values. ## Industry backed Wright, not French TXOGA initially endorsed incumbent Jim Wright with $100,000. Exxon gave $20,000, and Chevron and Diamondback each gave $10,000. ## French is toxic for business Oil companies do business in the Middle East and employ South Asian workers, groups French has targeted. Backing him risks operations and workforce relations. > toxic in so many different ways that the oil and natural gas industry does not want to be openly associated with him ## What the Railroad Commission does The 135-year-old agency oversees drilling, pipelines, carbon capture and wastewater. It manages a half-billion-dollar budget but has no role in immigration or LGBTQ+ issues. ## French offers few policy details French rarely discusses energy policy or proposes improvements. His social media focuses on immigration and LGBTQ+ issues, not the agency's work. ## Extreme deportation proposals At a March conference, French called for deporting 100 million people, roughly a third of the U.S. population, including Native Americans. ## Vague promises on energy costs French recently updated his website to promise lower gas prices but hasn't explained how. He blames high prices on environmental policy. > When radical environmentalists try to regulate Oil and Gas out of existence, it is a direct threat on your house and home ## Small oil donors support French Midland executive Miles Boldrick and others donated tens of thousands. Tim Dunn's son Luke gave at least $50,000, but major companies haven't followed. ## Rosenthal pitches moderate message Democrat Katherine Rosenthal, a former oil engineer, calls himself a "drill baby drill" Democrat. He says he wants to dispel negative narratives about his party. > I don't know how many people out there have ever met what I call a 'drill baby drill' Democrat ## Industry still wary of Democrats Experts say oil companies won't back Rosenthal either. Even as one vote on a three-member commission, a Democrat could raise uncomfortable questions. > The last thing the industry wants is a fox in the henhouse, and that's a Democrat on the Railroad Commission ## Key takeaway Major oil companies are avoiding Bo French despite his Republican candidacy, concerned his racist posts could damage their business relationships and workforce.