Bo French has declared victory in the Republican primary runoff for a seat on Texas' Railroad Commission, defeating incumbent Jim Wright. With 96.92% of votes counted, French led by 1.2 percentage points, according to the Associated Press. The Texas Railroad Commission regulates the state's oil and gas industry, despite its name not reflecting its current responsibilities.
French, who campaigned against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, framed his victory as a win for Texas Republicans. He pledged to fight 'DEI, overbearing regulation, and the influence of radical Islam and the [Chinese Communist Party] in Texas oil.' Wright, backed by major oil companies and Republican leaders, emphasized his industry experience and commitment to environmental and safety standards.
The race drew significant attention as a proxy fight over the direction of the Texas GOP. French was supported by conservative donors Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks, while Wright had the backing of Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows. The Republican nominee is expected to face Democrat Jon Rosenthal in the November general election.