Texas Railroad Commissioner winner
$3.4K
NOV 8, 2026
General Election
Voters choose the office holder.
Overview
Current roleInvestor
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
GenderMale
LocationTexas
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BackgroundInvestor
EducationTexas Christian University (TCU), B.A., 1993
Notable personal detailsRichard West “Bo” French is a Texas Republican political activist and businessman who has run for statewide office, including Texas Railroad Commissioner. He has worked in the energy sector as an energy trader and describes himself as a rancher and mineral owner, and he has also operated security businesses in the Middle East serving energy companies. French served as chairman of the Tarrant County Republican Party (2023–2025) before stepping down to run for Railroad Commissioner.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Healthcare
The candidate opposes government-run or universal healthcare and says Medicare and Medicaid should remain for those who paid into them. He states the free market provides the best opportunity for healthcare and rejects expanded taxpayer-funded programs. He also expressed opposition to government health-data databases as a slippery slope toward tyranny.
Immigration & Border
The candidate calls for very large-scale deportations and uses Islamophobic rhetoric, opposing immigration from groups he says have incompatible cultures; he advocates strict enforcement and removal of large numbers of people. His public statements emphasize stopping what he describes as an “invasion” and supporting punitive enforcement rather than expanded legal pathways or protections for asylum seekers.
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Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate is a vocal proponent of anti-abortion efforts and emphasizes pro-family policies, including campaigning for a “pro-family credentialing program.”
Climate & Energy
Supports prioritizing and defending Texas energy production and ‘energy independence,’ emphasizes ensuring the energy industry thrives and opposing federal overreach, and has run a campaign backed by major oil-industry donors. Positions emphasize support for fossil-fuel industry interests and rolling back or resisting regulations viewed as hostile to oil and gas.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate has publicly positioned himself as a staunch defender of Second Amendment rights and has been identified by pro-gun groups as a no-compromise, pro-gun candidate. His campaign events have featured prominent Second Amendment activists and his public posts emphasize defending the Second Amendment.
News
Bo French won the Republican runoff for Texas Railroad Commissioner, narrowly defeating incumbent Jim Wright and securing the GOP nomination for the November general election. He will face Democrat Jon Rosenthal, with the race drawing attention because the commission regulates Texas oil and gas. French has also been the subject of criticism over inflammatory comments and anti-DEI messaging, and a recent letters page mentioned him in an Islamophobia debate.
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Endorsements
Endorsers of Bo French for Texas Railroad Commissioner winner
Ken Paxton
Public figure
Ken Paxton backed Bo French in the Texas Railroad Commission runoff.
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility
Public endorsement
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility endorsed Bo French.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Fundraising