Tarrant County GOP Chair Faces Mounting Pressure to Resign Over Controversial Religious Poll

Bo French, chairman of the Tarrant County Republican Party, is under intense pressure to resign after posting a deeply offensive poll on social media asking followers to choose whether "Jews" or "Muslims" pose a greater threat to America, sparking condemnation from fellow Republicans including Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and civil rights organizations.

Social Media Poll Ignites Political Firestorm

On June 25, 2025, French posted a controversial poll on his X (formerly Twitter) account asking his nearly 29,000 followers, "Who is a bigger threat to America?" with two options: "Jews" and "Muslims". The poll, which remained active for several days before being deleted, garnered over 18,000 viewers, with 73.5 percent responding that Muslims posed a bigger threat than Jews at 26.5 percent.

Rather than immediately removing the poll after receiving criticism, French initially doubled down on his position. In a follow-up post, he wrote: "My take is that radical Islam wants to conquer us. You may not like Jews, but to suggest they are a bigger threat to Americans is Jew Derangement Syndrome".

"A poll asking Americans to choose whether Jews or Muslims are the 'bigger threat' is not only offensive—it's dangerous. It fuels suspicion and division during a time when both Jewish and Muslim communities are facing heightened threats across the country," said CAIR-Texas Board Member John Floyd.

Republican Leadership Demands Immediate Resignation

The backlash was swift and unprecedented, with high-ranking Republican officials calling for French's immediate resignation. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick became the first prominent Republican to condemn French's actions, posting on X publicly: "Bo French's words do not reflect my values nor the values of the Republican Party. Antisemitism and religious bigotry have no place in Texas".

Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker joined the chorus of condemnation, posting: "Too many examples of @BoFrenchTX's bigotry and hate. This is one of the most egregious examples. Go fishing on X for some of the other prime examples. Too many to list here. New leadership with @tarrantgop is a given. Clear the deck".

Additional Republican leaders who called for French's resignation included U.S. Representative Craig Goldman of Fort Worth, State Senator Phil King of Weatherford, and State Representative Giovanni Capriglione of Southlake. Goldman, a fifth-generation Jewish American, stated: "As a 5th generation Jewish American, I know what antisemitism looks like".

Pattern of Controversial Behavior

French's inflammatory poll represents the latest in a series of controversial social media posts that have drawn criticism from within his own party. In October 2024, French posted a now-deleted poll asking those who support Kamala Harris whether they were "ignorant, retarded, gay, or a liar". The post received 124,000 views and generated significant backlash, leading to calls for his resignation from Republican precinct chair Sheena Rodriguez.

According to The Dallas Express, French acknowledged posting "50 to 100 times a day" on social media and described some of his tweets as "absurd in an effort to demonstrate absurdity"6. Sources indicate that the French have a history of using derogatory language about LGBTQ+ individuals and people with disabilities.

Civil Rights Organizations Demand Action

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Texas) formally demanded French's removal, calling the poll both "antisemitic" and "Islamophobic." CAIR-Texas Operations Manager Shaimaa Zayan stated: "This shameful and irresponsible poll is a blatant act of antisemitic and Islamophobic bigotry. We expect elected officials and politicians to foster unity and lead with wisdom, not to promote suspicion and division".

The organization emphasized that both antisemitism and Islamophobia represent interconnected forms of hatred that "spring from the same well of ignorance, scapegoating and fear". CAIR also called for the French to issue a formal apology for promoting what they described as dangerous rhetoric that stigmatizes entire communities based on their faith.

Context of Rising Religious Tensions in Texas

French's controversial poll comes amid heightened religious tensions across Texas and the nation. According to the Anti-Defamation League, antisemitic incidents in Texas have jumped by 89% since 2021, with the state leading the nation in white supremacist propaganda activities. Similarly, CAIR reported that Islamophobia remains at an all-time high across the United States in its 2025 Civil Rights Report.

The controversy also coincides with ongoing debates over a proposed Muslim community development project called EPIC City near Dallas, which has drawn criticism from Republican leaders, including Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton. The project became the subject of both state and federal investigations amid allegations of potential discrimination and violations of fair housing laws.

French's Defense and Response

In response to the criticism, French initially defended his position, telling FOX: "In America, there is no greater threat than Islamic radicals. Like a lot of Americans, I am troubled by the growing influence they have, especially since Biden let 20 million illegal aliens into our country in just four years". He characterized Islam as "an ideology that wants to conquer us" and stated that America would not rest until communities were rid of such ideology.

However, facing mounting pressure from Republican leadership and civil rights organizations, French eventually deleted the poll and issued what appeared to be a reluctant apology, stating he regretted the post.

Historical Context Within Tarrant County GOP

This controversy represents a culmination of ongoing tensions within the Tarrant County Republican Party regarding religious tolerance and diversity. In 2019, the party faced criticism when some members attempted to remove Dr. Shahid Shafi, a Muslim surgeon and Southlake City Council member, from his position as vice chairman of the party solely based on his religion. Governor Greg Abbott supported Shafi at the time, emphasizing the importance of freedom of religion.

Additionally, French has been involved in multiple controversies during his tenure as chairman, including disputes over precinct chair elections and criticism of Republican commissioners who supported early voting sites on college campuses.

Implications for Republican Unity

As of June 30, 2025, French remains in his position as Tarrant County GOP chairman despite widespread calls for his resignation from Republican leadership, civil rights organizations, and party members. The controversy has exposed deep divisions within the Texas Republican Party regarding religious tolerance, diversity, and the boundaries of acceptable political discourse.

The incident highlights the ongoing challenge facing the Republican Party in Texas as it navigates between appealing to its conservative base while maintaining broader electoral viability in an increasingly diverse state. With antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents on the rise nationally, the response to French's controversial poll may serve as a bellwether for how Republican leadership addresses religious bigotry within party ranks.

The mounting pressure from prominent Republican officials suggests that French's position may become increasingly untenable, potentially forcing either his resignation or removal through party mechanisms. The outcome is likely to have significant implications for the future direction of the Tarrant County Republican Party and broader discussions about religious tolerance within Texas politics.