Texas Republican nominees and operatives are expressing concern over social media posts by Bo French, the GOP candidate for Railroad Commissioner, who shared an image of a diverse crowd of University of Texas football fans with the caption, “The problem is now obviously far worse than anyone imagined.” The post, which appeared to target South Asian students, has drawn sharp criticism from within the party just weeks before high-stakes elections for Attorney General Ken Paxton’s Senate bid and Governor Greg Abbott’s reelection. While French has stood by his comments, several Republican leaders have denounced the rhetoric as harmful to the party’s standing with voters of color.
What the Right Is Saying
The Republican response has been mixed, with some leaders condemning the post while others defend the underlying immigration concerns. Sen. John Cornyn, whose former consultant Matt Mackowiak labeled the post “profoundly unhelpful,” asked whether fellow Republicans would “condemn the intolerance and racism, or look the other way while it becomes normalized.” Rep. Monica De La Cruz, a Republican facing a tough reelection in a Hispanic-majority district, stated she is willing to “condemn racism” wherever it appears, noting, “All I see in that photograph is a group of kids celebrating a Longhorns win. What can be more Texan than that?” Governor Greg Abbott clarified that French’s post “is not my message,” while reaffirming his support for strict immigration laws, including freezing H1B visas at universities. Meanwhile, French defended his stance, stating it is “not racist to point out that we should be favoring Texans over foreigners” and accusing his critics of being afraid of such labels.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic opponents and progressive strategists have seized on the post to highlight perceived xenophobia within the Republican ticket. State Rep. Jon Rosenthal, the Democratic candidate running against French, reported that the controversy generated his best fundraising day of the election cycle. Democrats argue that the post reflects a broader pattern of alienating minority voters in a state where non-Hispanic whites now comprise only 37% of the population. Democratic nominee James Talarico also publicly criticized Senator Ken Paxton for his response, challenging him to distance himself from the rhetoric.
What the Numbers Show
According to Politico, the post has created significant anxiety among GOP operatives who are already concerned about slipping support with voters of color. Anang Mittal, an Indian American national GOP strategist, criticized Abbott’s response as “pretty damn disgusting,” arguing that the students in the photo were likely on student visas, not H-1B visas. Two students identified in the photo told the Dallas Morning News that they are U.S. citizens. State law requires that 90% of each University of Texas freshman class come from in-state, and there is no evidence that the students in the image are foreigners. Karl Rove, a longtime adviser to former President George W. Bush, reportedly called French a “bigot” at a private event and stated he would vote for French’s Democratic opponent. Most polls currently show Paxton slightly trailing in his Senate race, a contest that could determine control of the upper chamber.
The Bottom Line
The controversy underscores the precarious position of the Republican Party in Texas as it seeks to maintain its dominance in a rapidly changing demographic landscape. With the general election approximately 50 days away, the party is navigating a tension between its base’s focus on immigration enforcement and the need to retain support among Hispanic and other minority voters. While no senior Republican has explicitly called for French to withdraw from the race, the incident has intensified internal debates about how to address voter concerns without alienating key demographics. The impact on down-ballot candidates, particularly in South Texas congressional races, remains a primary concern for GOP strategists.