Bo French announced his resignation as Tarrant County Republican Party Chairman to run for the Texas Railroad Commission because he wants to fight what he calls the “Islamic invasion” of Texas while supporting American energy production. The announcement occurred during his second year in office, prompting widespread Republican criticism for his controversial social media statements.
From County Politics to Statewide Ambitions
A Frenchman who runs his own business and engages in political activism has dedicated 30 years to Texas energy-sector investments and will run against Republican Railroad Commission Chair Jim Wright in the 2026 primary election, according to various news sources. French used his announcement to highlight his fundraising success as Tarrant County GOP chair and his role in helping Donald Trump win Tarrant County in the November 2024 election.
French told the Texas Tribune and KSAT that Texas oil and gas production enabled America to become great while providing fuel for worldwide freedom struggles. I will run for Railroad Commissioner to establish American citizens as my top priority while serving American interests and protecting American energy resources.
The Railroad Commission’s oil and gas industry oversight role in Texas became the subject of doubt because French linked his anti-Muslim statements to his proposed role as commissioner.
Pattern of Controversial Statements Shadows Campaign
The Tarrant County GOP chair position under French has seen repeated provocative statements, leading to criticism from top Republican leaders. The July social media poll from Bo French sparked a demand for his removal from Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker because it asked followers to choose between Jews and Muslims as the biggest threat to America.
The Republican Party values I support do not align with the statements Bo French made, according to Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who expressed his views on the social media platform X, according to Context Corner. Texas must eliminate all forms of religious discrimination and antisemitic behavior.
“The Texas oil and gas industry needs a strong defender who will never back down to leftist pressure. As your next Railroad Commissioner, I will fight to end DEI, radical climate change ideology, and foreign capture of our oil and gas industries.” — Bo French, announcing his campaign
French has faced public disapproval after posting slurs against his political rivals on social media, according to the Texas Tribune. French launched an anti-Muslim attack against Democratic State Representative Salman Bhojani in August 2025 by demanding that federal authorities remove his citizenship and send him out of the country.
Understanding the Railroad Commission’s Power
The Texas Railroad Commission is one of the strongest regulatory bodies in America because it oversees the extensive oil and gas sector in Texas, rather than railroads, despite its outdated name. The three-member elected board controls all aspects of oil and gas operations —from exploration through drilling and production to distribution —while maintaining pipeline safety and addressing environmental issues arising from energy activities.
The commission performs its statutory duties through resource protection, defense of interest-owner rights, pollution prevention, and hydrogen sulfide safety management, according to its official website. The Railroad Commission of Texas makes essential decisions about oil production because Texas produces the most oil in the United States, which affects both the state’s financial stability and national energy strategies.
Environmental organizations have criticized the commission because it approved more than 99% of oil companies’ requests to emit natural gas into the atmosphere over 40 months, according to reporting by ProPublica and Inside Climate News.