Democrat Jon Rosenthal wins Texas Railroad Commission seat after Bo French backlash

Democrat Jon Rosenthal has won a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission, the three-member body that regulates the state's oil and gas industry, according to projections by CBS News and NBC News ²³. With about 93% of votes counted, Rosenthal led Republican Bo French 52.5% to 45.6%, CBS reported ².

The commission does not deal with railroads. It regulates oil and gas production in Texas, which accounts for over 40% of U.S. crude oil output, CBS reported ². Rosenthal will be one of three commissioners; the other two are Republicans, and members serve six-year terms ²³. The last Democrat to win a railroad commission race did so in 1990, according to CBS ².

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Rosenthal is a state representative from Houston and a former oil field engineer ²³. He has served in the state House since 2019 ³. He campaigned on lowering energy costs, setting rules for data centers, weatherization requirements for gas production and banning industry donations to commissioners ³.

French's posts drew condemnation from Republicans

French, the former Tarrant County Republican Party chairman, drew national criticism in September after posting an image of University of Texas students, some of whom appeared to be South Asian or Indian ³. He wrote that the problem was "now obviously far worse than anyone imagined" and later reposted the photo saying Americans had been "displaced by foreigners" ³. Several of the students later said they were American citizens, CBS reported ².

From Channel GOPGina Hinojosa projected winner in Texas governor's raceGina Hinojosa · 124 plays · captioned, with the source named

Sen. John Cornyn said he would not vote for French, and Karl Rove said he would vote for Rosenthal instead, according to NBC News ³. Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, a Republican, endorsed Rosenthal ³. French still raised more than $700,000 after the post about the students, while Rosenthal brought in more than $500,000 in the same period, CBS reported ².

I am humbled and honored by the faith placed in me by the people of Texas, who have sent the message that the politics of hate and division do not win in the Lone Star State

French had a history of discriminatory remarks. When he chaired the Tarrant County Republican Party, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called on him to resign after he reportedly posted a poll asking whether Jews or Muslims pose a bigger threat to the U.S. ³. Asked in July whether he regretted comments against minority groups, French said he did not ³.

Truth sounds like hate to those who hate the truth.

What happens next

Rosenthal joins a slate of incoming Democratic statewide officeholders in Texas, including Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa and Sen.-elect James Talarico ³. The railroad commission has not had railroad oversight since 2005, The Guardian reported ¹. Rosenthal's win gives Democrats a foothold on a panel they have been shut out of for decades ¹.

That matters because the commission's decisions reach household bills and the state's dominant industry. Rosenthal ran on lowering utility rates and putting guardrails around new data centers ¹. With two Republicans still on the panel, his influence will be limited, but his seat gives Democrats a voice in rules covering the industry that supplies more than 40% of U.S. crude oil ².

The Record

1. Jun 1, 2025French drew rebuke after asking his X followers whether Jews or Muslims posed a greater threat to America ¹.
2. Sep 1, 2026French posted about University of Texas students of South Asian descent, drawing national criticism and condemnation from Texas Republicans ¹³.
3. Nov 3, 2026Rosenthal wrote on X that the politics of hate and division do not win in the Lone Star State ¹.
4. Nov 4, 2026CBS News and NBC News projected Rosenthal the winner, with about 93% of votes counted and Rosenthal leading 52.5% to 45.6% ²³.

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<h2>Democrat Jon Rosenthal wins Texas Railroad Commission seat after Bo French backlash</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Campaign Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/democrat-jon-rosenthal-wins-texas-railroad-commission-seat-after-bo-french-backlash">The GOP Files</a> on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.</em></p> <p>Democrat Jon Rosenthal has won a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission, the three-member body that regulates the state&#39;s oil and gas industry, according to projections by CBS News and NBC News . With about 93% of votes counted, Rosenthal led Republican Bo French 52.5% to 45.6%, CBS reported .</p> <p>The commission does not deal with railroads. It regulates oil and gas production in Texas, which accounts for over 40% of U.S. crude oil output, CBS reported . Rosenthal will be one of three commissioners; the other two are Republicans, and members serve six-year terms . The last Democrat to win a railroad commission race did so in 1990, according to CBS .</p> <p>Rosenthal is a state representative from Houston and a former oil field engineer . He has served in the state House since 2019 . He campaigned on lowering energy costs, setting rules for data centers, weatherization requirements for gas production and banning industry donations to commissioners .</p> <h2>French&#39;s posts drew condemnation from Republicans</h2> <p>French, the former Tarrant County Republican Party chairman, drew national criticism in September after posting an image of University of Texas students, some of whom appeared to be South Asian or Indian . He wrote that the problem was &quot;now obviously far worse than anyone imagined&quot; and later reposted the photo saying Americans had been &quot;displaced by foreigners&quot; . Several of the students later said they were American citizens, CBS reported .</p> <p>Sen. John Cornyn said he would not vote for French, and Karl Rove said he would vote for Rosenthal instead, according to NBC News . Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, a Republican, endorsed Rosenthal . French still raised more than $700,000 after the post about the students, while Rosenthal brought in more than $500,000 in the same period, CBS reported .</p> <blockquote><p>I am humbled and honored by the faith placed in me by the people of Texas, who have sent the message that the politics of hate and division do not win in the Lone Star State</p><p>&mdash; Jon Rosenthal, Texas railroad commissioner-elect, Democrat</p></blockquote> <p>French had a history of discriminatory remarks. When he chaired the Tarrant County Republican Party, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called on him to resign after he reportedly posted a poll asking whether Jews or Muslims pose a bigger threat to the U.S. . Asked in July whether he regretted comments against minority groups, French said he did not .</p> <blockquote><p>Truth sounds like hate to those who hate the truth.</p><p>&mdash; Bo French, Republican nominee for Texas railroad commissioner</p></blockquote> <h2>What happens next</h2> <p>Rosenthal joins a slate of incoming Democratic statewide officeholders in Texas, including Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa and Sen.-elect James Talarico . The railroad commission has not had railroad oversight since 2005, The Guardian reported . Rosenthal&#39;s win gives Democrats a foothold on a panel they have been shut out of for decades .</p> <p>That matters because the commission&#39;s decisions reach household bills and the state&#39;s dominant industry. Rosenthal ran on lowering utility rates and putting guardrails around new data centers . With two Republicans still on the panel, his influence will be limited, but his seat gives Democrats a voice in rules covering the industry that supplies more than 40% of U.S. crude oil .</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/democrat-jon-rosenthal-wins-texas-railroad-commission-seat-after-bo-french-backlash">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/democrat-jon-rosenthal-wins-texas-railroad-commission-seat-after-bo-french-backlash.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. The Guardian, “Democrat Jon Rosenthal elected Texas railroad commissioner over controversial Republican Bo French” (2026-11-04). theguardian.com/us-news/2026/nov/04/jon-rosenthal-texas-rail
2. CBS News, “Democrat Rosenthal wins ugly race for Texas railroad commissioner” (2026-11-04). cbsnews.com/news/texas-railroad-commissioner-democrat-rosent
3. NBC News, “Democrat wins Texas railroad commissioner race after Republican faced backlash over racist comments” (2026-11-04). nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/democrat-jon-rosenthal-wi

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