# The racist running for Texas oil regulator

> Bo French's extreme bigotry has made him vulnerable in a race Republicans usually win easily, but his party's leaders still back him.
- Title: The racist running for Texas oil regulator · Mother Jones
- Summary: Bo French's extreme bigotry has made him vulnerable in a race Republicans usually win easily, but his party's leaders still back him. A Republican candidate…
- Keywords: bo french, jon rosenthal, texas railroad commission, texas politics, republican primary, islamophobia, antisemitism, oil and gas regulation, greg abbott, ken paxton, christian nationalism, white supremacy
- Source: Mother Jones — https://motherjones.com/politics/2026/09/bo-french-jon-rosenthal-texas-railroad-commission
- Author: Tim Murphy
- Published: 2026-09-17T09:21:01+00:00
- Read time: 3 min
- Topics: bo french, jon rosenthal, texas railroad commission, texas politics, republican primary, islamophobia, antisemitism, oil and gas regulation, greg abbott, ken paxton, christian nationalism, white supremacy
## An unexpected opponent
Jon Rosenthal expected a policy-focused race for Texas Railroad Commission. Instead, he's facing Bo French, who calls for deporting 100 million people and emulating apartheid.
## The race is surprisingly close
French's lead over Rosenthal is just outside the margin of error. More than 600,000 Republicans already voted against French twice this year in the primary.
## Top Republicans still endorse him
Gov. Greg Abbott endorsed French. Attorney General Ken Paxton campaigned with him. Even the incumbent French defeated offered congratulations.
## Rosenthal's industry credentials
The 63-year-old mechanical engineer spent 25 years in oil and gas, making service calls to Gulf platforms and West Texas rigs before entering politics.

> I present myself as serious-minded and keen on the issues and working with industry to protect our communities and strengthen our infrastructure and our economy.
## French's violent business past
French once ran a military training company with Chris Kyle. Kyle's widow claimed he stole the firm, though they eventually settled the dispute.
## The infamous poll question
As Tarrant County GOP chair, French polled his followers: "Who is a bigger threat to America?" The two choices were "Muslims" and "Jews."
## Calls for mass deportation
French said Trump should "round up every Muslim in America, denaturalize them, and deport them." He's also targeted Chinese Americans and some Native Americans.

> Time to go round up all the Chinese and send them packing!
## The Rhodesia comparison
French wrote that America should "be Rhodesia," referencing the apartheid state. When told this, Rosenthal was stunned: "He's talking about white minority rule, that's just wild."

> We need to what? 'Be Rhodesia?' I don't even, that's…I…I haven't heard that.
## Attacking the oil industry
French called his Republican opponent "Jihadi Jim" and claimed Saudi ties allowed "Islamic values and laws" to infiltrate the commission regulating Texas oil.
## Antisemitic attacks on Rosenthal
French's campaign accused Rosenthal, who is Jewish, of "mocking Christianity" and compared him to Bolsheviks who killed Russia's Romanov family, a classic antisemitic trope.
## The uphill Democratic battle
No Democrat running for railroad commissioner has cracked 45 percent since Bill Clinton's first term. Rosenthal needs voters to break decades-long patterns.
## Major donors opposed French
While West Texas billionaires backed French's primary campaign, major Republican donors from Miriam Adelson to ExxonMobil opposed him.
## The football game tweet
French shared a photo of South Asian UT students celebrating a football win, writing the problem is "far worse than anyone imagined." Even John Cornyn and Karl Rove condemned it.

> I heard UT graduation this year looked like this. I didn't believe it. The problem is now obviously far worse than anyone imagined.
## French spoke at CPAC
French's comments about deporting 100 million people came at CPAC, a premier conservative conference. Paxton stumped with him weeks later at his runoff launch party.
## Texas Republicans embrace Islamophobia
Paxton tried banning a Muslim civil rights group. Abbott designated it terrorist and blocked a Muslim housing development. The state GOP chair told Muslim delegates to leave the party.
## Abbott's contradictory warnings
Before the runoff, Abbott said French "doesn't know anything about oil and gas" and would "wreck the miracle." But he also said a Rosenthal win "would destroy the world."

> Republicans might not want to be Rhodesians. They live in mortal fear of becoming Democrats.
## Key takeaway

A Republican candidate with openly racist views is competitive for a powerful Texas regulatory position, revealing how extremism has become mainstream in the party.