Bo French
Republican candidate for Na in Texas
Texas Railroad Commissioner winner
$206.1K
NOV 7, 2026
General Election
Voters choose the office holder.
Live Odds — Texas Railroad Commissioner winner
Current prediction-market probability for the candidate, updated as market prices change.
41%chance to win
$206.1KNOV 7, 2026Candidate Overview
Key details about the candidate’s background, party, office sought and current campaign.
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
Political 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.
Latest News
Bo French recently won the Republican runoff for Texas Railroad Commissioner, defeating incumbent Jim Wright by a narrow margin and advancing to the November general election against Democrat Jon Rosenthal. He has also received a public endorsement from Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick as Republicans try to unify behind their nominees. Some recent coverage has also noted criticism of French tied to inflammatory comments and Islamophobia debates, but the main news is his runoff victory and general-election campaign.
How did Tarrant County vote in the railroad commissioner runoff?
Patrick joins GOP leaders in lining up behind Bo French
How did Dallas County vote in the GOP railroad commissioner runoff?
Who is Bo French, the GOP nominee for Texas railroad commission
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We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
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