Prominent Texas Republicans, including Senator John Cornyn and Governor Greg Abbott, have publicly condemned Bo French, the Republican nominee for the state’s Railroad Commission, after French posted a xenophobic comment regarding Asian American students at a University of Texas football game. The post, shared on X, depicted students celebrating a victory and described them as a "problem," sparking immediate backlash from party leadership.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican leadership moved quickly to distance the party from French’s remarks. Senator John Cornyn labeled the post "racist" and called on other officials to condemn "intolerance." Governor Greg Abbott stated that the image showed Texans united behind their college football team, rejecting French's framing. Abbott emphasized that "we unite under the brand of Texas," though he separately defended the state's strict immigration laws and H1B visa freezes. Several Texas House members, including Reps. Lacey Hull, Jared Patterson, and Jeff Leach, urged French to delete the post, with Patterson calling it "racist" and stating there was "nothing Christian or conservative" about targeting students based on skin color.
However, some conservative figures, including former Texas GOP Chair Matt Rinaldi and State Rep. Andy Hopper, defended French and attacked Cornyn, with Hopper calling the Senator a "smug globalist." Attorney General Ken Paxton, a potential successor to Cornyn, did not address the incident, focusing instead on his Democratic opponent.
What the Left Is Saying
While the primary criticism came from within the Republican party, the incident highlights tensions regarding race and immigration rhetoric in Texas politics. Democratic observers note that the swift rebuke from high-profile GOP figures signals a potential fracture in the party's approach to demographic changes in the state. The controversy underscores ongoing debates about how conservative politicians address the growing Asian American population in Texas, particularly in academic and public settings.
What the Numbers Show
The controversy centers on a single social media post and the subsequent reactions from at least six named Republican officials: Senators, the Governor, and multiple House members. French’s history includes advocating for the deportation of 100 million people and expressing concerns about Islam. The post referenced a specific event: the University of Texas Longhorns' victory over top-ranked Ohio State. No polling data is available regarding public opinion on the post itself, but the unified condemnation from major GOP figures suggests a significant concern about the political viability of such rhetoric in statewide races.
The Bottom Line
This incident illustrates a growing divide within the Texas Republican party between mainstream leadership and more populist or hardline conservative voices. The explicit condemnation by Governor Abbott and Senator Cornyn aims to protect the party's broad coalition, particularly as Texas demographics shift. The outcome of the Railroad Commission race and the potential primary challenge to Senator Cornyn by Attorney General Ken Paxton will likely be influenced by how the party resolves this ideological conflict. State officials have not yet indicated whether French will withdraw his candidacy or if the party will take formal disciplinary action.