AUSTIN (Azat TV) – Democrat Jon Rosenthal secured a historic victory in the Texas Railroad Commissioner race on November 3, 2026, defeating Republican Bo French, as reported by TPR. Rosenthal’s win marks the first time a Democrat has been elected to the powerful state regulatory agency since 1990, breaking more than three decades of uninterrupted Republican control over the three-member commission. With about 93% of the vote counted, CBS News projects Rosenthal led French 52.5% to 45.6% before French ultimately conceded the race on Tuesday night.
Despite its name, the Railroad Commission of Texas does not oversee railroads. Instead, the agency regulates the state’s massive oil and gas sector, which accounts for over 40% of the United States’ total crude oil output. The commission manages pipelines, natural gas rates, and environmental enforcement across the energy-rich state. Rosenthal, currently a state representative from Houston and a former oil field engineer who spent 25 years working in the industry, campaigned heavily on his technical background and energy policy reforms.
The Campaign Controversy and National Backlash
The general election race drew intense national scrutiny largely due to controversies surrounding French’s campaign platform and social media statements. French, the former Tarrant County Republican chairman who originally hails from Midland, faced widespread condemnation in September after posting a photo of students celebrating at a University of Texas football game. French claimed on social media that the students—several of whom later identified themselves as American citizens—were evidence that “foreigners” were displacing Americans at Texas universities.
The social media posts prompted severe backlash from prominent state Republicans. Ahead of the May runoff and through the general election, figures such as Senator John Cornyn and Republican strategist Karl Rove publicly stated they would not vote for French. Despite losing the backing of several party leaders, French continued fundraising, bringing in over $700,000 following the September controversy. Meanwhile, Rosenthal raised more than $500,000 during the same fundraising window.
Energy Policy Positions and Industry Priorities
Throughout the campaign, the two candidates presented sharply contrasting visions for managing Texas’s vital energy infrastructure. French’s platform emphasized deregulation, lowering energy prices, and addressing broader political grievances, including strict immigration controls and opposition to diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. His campaign website also featured rhetoric calling to “stop the Islamic invasion of Texas.”
In contrast, Rosenthal positioned himself as an energy-industry insider committed to pragmatic oversight. Having entered politics in the wake of the deadly February 2021 winter storm that exposed severe vulnerabilities in the state’s power grid, Rosenthal pledged to focus on lowering energy costs, curbing pollution, and accelerating the plugging of abandoned oil wells. He also emphasized the need for stricter oversight of natural gas infrastructure and managing the escalating energy demands driven by new data centers.
A Changing Political Landscape in Texas
Following his victory, Rosenthal addressed supporters in Austin, stating that Texas voters had rejected divisive rhetoric. French subsequently conceded the contest as Democrats secured multiple notable victories across Texas in the November 2026 midterms. Rosenthal will join a commission where the remaining two sitting commissioners are Republicans, meaning he will need to navigate a bipartisan dynamic while overseeing one of the largest regulatory jurisdictions in American energy production.