Bo French, a Republican candidate seeking a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission, is facing intense internal condemnation from prominent members of his own party following a controversial social media post targeting non-Caucasian college football fans. The incident has caused significant political fallout across the state, prompting senior conservative figures to publicly distance themselves and, in a rare break of partisan loyalty, pledge their support to his Democratic opponent.
The controversy began when French shared an image on X showing a group of non-Caucasian students celebrating the University of Texas Longhorns' dramatic fourth-quarter comeback victory over top-ranked Ohio State. Above the photograph, French attached a caption expressing dismay over the racial composition of the student body, writing that he had previously heard reports about the demographic makeup of university graduations but had disbelieved them until seeing the celebration photo. He went on to declare that the situation was far more severe than anyone had anticipated.
Without possessing any information regarding the citizenship, background, or residency of the individuals pictured, French framed the students—many of whom appeared to be of Asian descent—as unwanted outsiders. Analysts note that this unsupported characterization of minority students as non-Texan foreigners exemplifies how formerly fringe, xenophobic talking points have increasingly penetrated mainstream political rhetoric within certain segments of the Republican Party.
French’s assertions also stood in stark contrast to the actual demographic realities of the university itself. According to official statistics provided by Texas Global, international students comprise fewer than 10 percent of the more than 55,000 students currently enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin, demonstrating that the vast majority of the campus community consists of domestic students.
The post quickly ignited a wave of fierce criticism from veteran Republicans, most notably Karl Rove, a highly regarded political consultant in Texas and the former longtime senior adviser to President George W. Bush. Speaking at a private gathering in Austin, Rove did not mince words, explicitly branding French "a bigot" for publishing the derogatory post and attacking young college fans.
In an extraordinary move reflecting his outrage, Rove announced that he would not support French in the general election and would instead cast his ballot for Jon Rosenthal, the Democratic candidate from Houston. Rove’s decision to endorse Rosenthal represents a historic personal milestone, as it breaks a 32-year record during which the veteran strategist consistently and exclusively supported Republican contenders.
The condemnation extended to high-ranking federal and state officials within Texas. Outgoing Republican U.S. Senator John Cornyn, who recently lost his primary re-election bid to state Attorney General Ken Paxton, took to X to voice severe disappointment with French's comments, particularly after the candidate attempted to solicit campaign donations off the back of the social media uproar.
Cornyn warned his party colleagues of the grave long-term political dangers associated with embracing such divisive rhetoric. In his online statement, the senator asserted that the Republican Party should hold itself to higher standards, urging members to condemn bigotry targeted at fellow Texans lest the party alienate voters and eventually find itself reduced to permanent minority status in future elections.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott, known for his hard-right governance, also signaled his disagreement with French’s stance. In remarks provided to Politico, Abbott emphasized that collegiate athletic achievements, such as the historic victory over Ohio State, should serve as a source of statewide unity rather than cultural fragmentation, stating that selective images of celebrating Longhorn fans should highlight how Texans come together under a shared identity.
Legislative and academic leaders similarly stepped forward to repudiate the candidate's characterizations. Republican State Senator Lacey Hull publicly pleaded with French to take down the offensive post, expressing sorrow over the message and reminding the public that the individuals in the picture were simply young Texans coming together to cheer on their collegiate athletic program.
The University of Texas System administration also defended the student body against French’s remarks. Kevin Eltife, the chairman of the university’s board of regents, issued a statement praising the celebrating students, noting that the vibrant, diverse crowd visible in the stadium reflects the same proud Longhorn community he witnesses regularly across campus and during annual graduation ceremonies.
Despite the mounting backlash from established leaders within his party, French remained defiant and showed no intention of apologizing for his statements. During a subsequent appearance on a radio program hosted by Mark Davis, French pushed back against his detractors by characterizing the Republicans who criticized him as insufficiently conservative and beholden to party elites.
Defending his posture, French claimed that the establishment wing of the state GOP had previously raised and deployed roughly $7 million in campaign funds against him during the primary election. He contended that the same figures who had opposed his nomination were now using the social media post as a pretext to attack his conservative platform.
The controversy surrounding French comes amid a broader pattern of midterm Republican contenders drawing national attention for utilizing inflammatory, misogynistic, or racially charged rhetoric on digital platforms and the campaign trail, intensifying debates about party standards and electability.
Among other Texas candidates facing scrutiny is Brandon Herrera, a Republican running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Herrera, an online gun content creator known by his persona "the AK guy," has drawn intense criticism for crude sexual comments and offensive video stunts, as well as a 2024 remark describing a World War II-era German firearm as "the original ghetto blaster"—a comment that prompted the Republican Jewish Coalition to denounce him as an extremist.
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