Republican · Railroad Commissioner
Bo French
Record verified Sept. 24, 2026 · Corrections welcome
Bo French is the Republican candidate for Railroad Commissioner in the November 3, 2026 general election. French said the problem was “actually Islam” and made Muslim-country restrictions part of his oil-regulator campaign. The office regulates oil, gas, pipelines, mining and related safety in Texas.
In September 2026, French posted a photo of South Asian UT students celebrating a Longhorns football win and called the situation a “problem” while arguing that foreigners were displacing Americans. The post drew accusations of racism and xenophobia from critics across party lines, including Republican officials. French defended the remarks the following day. Reporting also noted that the people pictured were UT students and that university enrollment data did not support broader claims that foreign students were displacing Texans.
The sourced record below also covers: French said the problem was “actually Islam” and made Muslim-country restrictions part of his oil-regulator campaign; French's campaign lists oil-and-gas expansion, contracting and foreign-ownership policies. Each item remains attributed to its original statement, filing, reported account, official action, or court record; allegations are not presented as findings.
Sources for this biography
Texas Tribune report, September 13, 2026 · Texas Tribune follow-up, September 14, 2026
Reported coverage
Coverage
Credible reporting and clearly labeled analysis, opinion, interviews, and guides.
Texas Railroad Commission election 2026 guide
A guide to Bo French, Jon Rosenthal, and the state oil-and-gas regulator.
French and Rosenthal clash over social issues and oil and gas
Reporting on the candidates’ records, rhetoric, and approaches to the commission’s energy duties.
Tim Dunn donation boosts Bo French
Campaign-finance reporting on a major contribution to French’s Railroad Commission campaign.
Bo French appears at Midland Republican forum
Coverage of French’s campaign statements at a Republican candidate forum in Midland.
French wins Railroad Commission runoff
A report on the Republican runoff and French’s path to the general election.
Record sourced · Reviewed September 24, 2026
Record at a glance
- Muslim / Islam record
- 2 documented
- Muslim community engagement
- No verified public record found
- Pro-Israel political money
- Partial review
- Anti-Islam remarks & actions
- 1 documented
- CIVIL LIBERTIES
- Backed Muslim-country land restrictions Record
- Years in public office
- No public info found
Civil liberties
Backed Muslim-country land restrictions
French called a group of South Asian UT students celebrating a football win a “problem.”
French posted a photo of South Asian University of Texas students celebrating the Longhorns’ win and called the situation a “problem” in a post about foreigners displacing Americans. The Texas Tribune reported criticism from Republicans including U.S. Sen. John Cornyn; it also cited Reuters reporting that politicians from both parties accused French of racism and xenophobia. The Tribune’s follow-up reported that French defended and doubled down on the remarks the next day on conservative radio. The reporting identified the people in the photo as UT students; their appearance does not establish immigration status. The Tribune also reported that UT enrollment data contradicted the broader claim that foreign students were displacing Texans.
Bo French post about South Asian UT students draws racism backlash (Texas Tribune) · REPORTED · reviewed September 24, 2026
Campaign-finance audit
Filing review and source trail
Partial review · checked September 24, 2026
The candidate’s available 2025–2026 TEC reports were reviewed through June 30, 2026. No explicitly identified pro-Israel PAC receipt was located; that finding does not establish a corporate-PAC-free campaign.
Source details
- Filing system
- TEC
- Review period
- 20250101 through 20260630
- Filing ID(s)
- 00088180
- Review scope
- Partial: PAC-name screening of the 2025–2026 Texas Ethics Commission reports through June 30, 2026 is done. Review of large individual donors and full PAC and independent-spending tracing is still outstanding.
How we checked
- Matched the candidate's Texas Ethics Commission filer ID and 2025–2026 reports in the September 24, 2026 bulk export.
- Screened contributor names for identified Israel-policy organizations; a plain word search was rejected because it matched donor surnames.
- Outstanding: list every PAC contributor, review individual donors giving $25,000 or more against independent advocacy sources, and trace independent spending.
PAC & IE receipts
Direct AIPAC, other pro-Israel PAC, IE support and IE opposition remain separate.
View receipts →Major donor context
No public info found
Israel-linked financial actions
No public info found
Muslim community engagement
We found no public record of an in-person engagement or organized policy work with a Muslim organization in the sources reviewed through September 24, 2026.
Years in public office: No public info found
We have not yet sourced a complete record of this candidate's government service, so no number is shown.
Still needed: Party chair roles are excluded; no government office has been confirmed or ruled out.
What to know
Certified for the November 3, 2026 ballot as the Republican candidate.
French said the problem was “actually Islam” and made Muslim-country restrictions part of his oil-regulator campaign.
At CPAC, Bo French calls for deportation of 100 million people (Texas Tribune)
French called a group of South Asian UT students celebrating a football win a “problem.”
Bo French post about South Asian UT students draws racism backlash (Texas Tribune)
The Railroad Commission regulates oil and gas production, natural-gas facilities, pipelines, hydrogen, surface mining and related energy infrastructure.
Sources under review
- Texas Railroad Commission election 2026 guide (Texas Tribune) · REPORTED · September 15, 2026
Evidence
Office-Specific Record & Authority
September 24, 2026 · statement · Campaign statement
French's campaign lists oil-and-gas expansion, contracting and foreign-ownership policies.
French's campaign says he would expand oil and gas production, oppose DEI-linked contracting criteria, scrutinize foreign ownership and create what it calls a “pro-family” credentialing program for operators.
Why it matters for this office: These proposals fall within or near the commission's regulatory authority.
Receipts · 1
Bo French: issues (campaign) · CANDIDATE-STATED / PRIMARY · Last reviewed September 24, 2026
Family & Household PolicyOpen
No candidate-specific record was located for this category in the sources reviewed through September 24, 2026.
How we checked
Muslims, Islam & Civil Rights — Documented Record2 records
The Railroad Commission regulates oil and gas, pipelines and related energy matters. It does not write Texas criminal, family or religious-law policy.
March 27, 2026 · statement · Independent reporting
French said the problem was “actually Islam” and made Muslim-country restrictions part of his oil-regulator campaign.
At a March 2026 CPAC panel, French said Republicans should more openly embrace Islamophobia, said “the problem is actually Islam,” and called for deporting 100 million people, according to the Texas Tribune. His campaign later proposed extending Texas land restrictions to all Muslim-majority countries. The campaign release asserted that Islam posed an existential threat and that Muslim-majority countries influenced Texas oil and gas, but supplied no transaction-level evidence for those broad claims. Immigration and religious law are outside the Railroad Commission's oil-and-gas jurisdiction.
Why it matters for this office: Shows how the candidate presents himself to voters; the commission regulates oil, gas, pipelines and mining, not immigration or religious law.
Receipts · 3
At CPAC, Bo French calls for deportation of 100 million people (Texas Tribune) · REPORTED · Last reviewed September 24, 2026
Also: Bo French announces proposed Muslim-country land restriction (campaign) · CANDIDATE-STATED / PRIMARY
Also: Railroad Commission general election: Bo French, Jon Rosenthal and social issues (Texas Tribune) · REPORTED
September 13, 2026 · statement · Independent reporting
French called a group of South Asian UT students celebrating a football win a “problem.”
French posted a photo of South Asian University of Texas students celebrating the Longhorns’ win and called the situation a “problem” in a post about foreigners displacing Americans. The Texas Tribune reported criticism from Republicans including U.S. Sen. John Cornyn; it also cited Reuters reporting that politicians from both parties accused French of racism and xenophobia. The Tribune’s follow-up reported that French defended and doubled down on the remarks the next day on conservative radio. The reporting identified the people in the photo as UT students; their appearance does not establish immigration status. The Tribune also reported that UT enrollment data contradicted the broader claim that foreign students were displacing Texans.
Why it matters for this office: Documents the candidate’s public rhetoric and the response to it while campaigning for statewide office; the Railroad Commission regulates energy, not immigration or university enrollment.
Receipts · 2
Bo French post about South Asian UT students draws racism backlash (Texas Tribune) · REPORTED · Last reviewed September 24, 2026
Also: Bo French defends UT football post on conservative radio (Texas Tribune) · REPORTED
Muslim Community EngagementOpen
No candidate-specific record was located for this category in the sources reviewed through September 24, 2026.
How we checked
Political Money & Israel-Policy Organizations
No public info found
Democracy & Civil LibertiesOpen
This issue falls largely outside the authority of this office. We include it only when the candidate has addressed it publicly.
How we checked
Palestine, Israel & Foreign PolicyOpen
This issue falls largely outside the authority of this office. We include it only when the candidate has addressed it publicly.
How we checked
Ballot listing: 2026 General Election statewide sample ballot, Texas Secretary of State. Page last reviewed September 24, 2026. Return to the Railroad Commissioner race overview. Methods & authorship. Corrections & updates.