AUSTIN — Bo French’s lead has narrowed slightly over incumbent Jim Wright in the GOP runoff for the Texas Railroad Commission as election day votes continue to be counted.
French’s steady lead has narrowed by a couple of points as Wright hopes that election night returns skew in his favor.
The brutal race between French and Wright for the state agency that regulates the state’s oil and gas industry has veered far from energy policy.
The race has also divided GOP loyalties: Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows endorsed Wright.
Many hard-line conservatives backed French, the former chair of the Tarrant County Republican Party who gave up his seat to challenge Wright. The winner will face state Rep. Jon Rosenthal, D-Houston, in the general election.
Wright has touted his experience in the industry and said he would like another term to better accomplish some of the commission’s goals like plugging orphan wells across the state. French has rarely touched on how he would regulate the oil and gas industry. Instead, he has focused on eliminating DEI initiatives and repeatedly has made inflammatory, antisemitic and racist comments.
He’s called for deporting every Muslim in America and says he’s running to combat the “Islamic invasion” of Texas.
Wright has condemned French’s rhetoric, referring to him as a “show pony.”
The down ballot race drew the attention — and money — of major Republican donors.
Texas Sands PAC, the group funded by casino magnate and Dallas Mavericks owner Miriam Adelson, gave Wright $500,000. Oil and gas executives also contributed generously to Wright.
A majority of French’s donations came from political groups tied to influential West Texas conservative billionaires Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks.