CBS News projects that Democrat Jon Rosenthal will defeat Republican Bo French for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission. With about 93% of votes counted, Rosenthal led 52.5% to 45.6%. French’s comments about immigrants, Muslims and Jews became central to the race, and several prominent Texas Republicans said they would not vote for him. The commission regulates oil and gas, not railroads, and its industry accounts for more than 40% of U.S. crude oil output. The account names no new fees, forms, compliance duties or deadlines; the projection awaits the remaining vote count and formal completion of the election process.
TLDR: Jon Rosenthal is projected to win a Texas Railroad Commission seat after a campaign dominated by Republican Bo French’s controversial statements. About 93% of votes were counted, and the account provides no details of new fees or regulatory deadlines.
Democrat Jon Rosenthal is projected by CBS News to win the Texas Railroad Commission race, defeating Republican Bo French in a contest shaped by French’s comments about immigrants, Muslims and Jews. With about 93% of votes counted, Rosenthal led 52.5% to French’s 45.6%. The result would mark a rare change for the office: the last Democrat to win a railroad commissioner race did so in 1990.
The account gives no official explanation for Rosenthal’s projected victory and identifies no formal policy rationale for voters’ choice. It says the candidates differed on oil and gas policy, but French’s remarks became the main issue in the contest. That distinction matters: the available account describes the political dispute, but does not establish that a particular policy position decided the race.
The title of the office can be misleading. The Texas Railroad Commission does not regulate railroads; it oversees the state’s oil and gas industry. That industry accounts for more than 40% of U.S. crude oil output, making the commission an influential body well beyond its name. The agency’s reach over oil and gas helps explain why the race drew attention outside the state, even as the campaign became focused on French’s public statements.
The commission has three members, and the other two are Republicans. Rosenthal is a state representative from Houston and a former oil field engineer who worked in the industry for 25 years. French, from Midland, previously served as Tarrant County Republican chairman. If the projection holds, Rosenthal would take one seat on the three-member body, while the other two seats would remain in Republican hands.
French’s comments drew opposition from prominent Republicans even before the general election. Ahead of the May runoff, many elected Republicans in Texas united against his candidacy, though French went on to win the nomination. Republican Sen. John Cornyn and Republican strategist Karl Rove later said they would not vote for French. Their statements showed that criticism of French came from within his own party as well as from Democrats.
The dispute intensified in September after French posted a photograph of University of Texas students and described them as a “problem” because they appeared to be of South Asian descent. In another post using the same photo, he wrote that social media was exposing how many Americans had been displaced by foreigners. Several students later said they were American citizens. The posts put the students’ appearance and citizenship at the center of a campaign controversy.
French had also previously posted antisemitic and anti-Muslim comments. His campaign platform called for rooting out DEI policies, stopping what he described as an “Islamic invasion of Texas,” and supporting life and the nuclear family. Those positions and statements formed part of the broader conflict surrounding his candidacy. The account does not say that French changed those views during the campaign.
The election result came despite substantial fundraising by both candidates. French raised more than $700,000 after his social media post about the students. Rosenthal raised more than $500,000 during the same period. The figures show that French continued to attract significant financial support even as some prominent Republicans publicly distanced themselves from his campaign. The account does not provide total campaign spending or say how either candidate used the money.
Rosenthal’s background links the projected winner to both the industry overseen by the commission and the state legislature. His 25 years working in oil and gas operations give him direct experience in the sector, while his service as a state representative adds legislative experience. The account does not specify how he would approach particular regulatory questions or whether his policy positions differ from French’s on any specific measure. It also does not describe any policy commitments he made during the campaign beyond saying the candidates differed on oil and gas policy.
The available account does not identify practical changes for Texans resulting from the election. It names no new fees, forms, compliance duties, enforcement changes, or deadlines. The direct institutional change would be a projected shift in one of three commission seats, with two seats remaining held by Republicans. The candidates’ stated differences on oil and gas policy mean the board’s work will remain consequential for an industry that produces more than 40% of U.S. crude oil, but the account gives no details about future rules or decisions.
The projection is based on about 93% of votes counted, and the account provides no final certified tally or certification date. It does not specify further oversight steps or a timetable. Until the remaining votes are counted and the formal process is complete, the result remains a projection rather than a certified outcome. No immediate regulatory change or new deadline is identified in the available information.
Max Grant serves as the Senior Correspondent for Data and Financial Forensics at Just Right News, where he brings a meticulous, investigative eye to the complex world of numbers. In an era where media narratives often overshadow objective reality, Max operates on a simple but firm principle: while rhetoric can be manipulated, the ledger never lies. As the architect behind the acclaimed feature series “Numbers That Talk,” he has carved out a vital niche in conservative journalism, translating dense financial data into clear, actionable insights for the American public.
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