Well, Ken, You Fucked That Up, Too

Several Texas Republicans condemned Bo French on Sunday after the GOP nominee for Railroad Commissioner made racist posts calling Asian students at UT a "problem."https://t.co/yqPKj6F2JD

— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) September 13, 2026

Cornyn’s message prompted a flood of criticisms against French from several Texas Republican state representatives.

“You can oppose immigration policy without demeaning people because of their race or ethnicity — this post has crossed the line,” said House Speaker Dustin Burrows.

Others took an even firmer stance.

Former House Speaker Dade Phelan called French “unfit for office.” State Rep. Jared Patterson said Texans deserve Railroad Commissioners who do their job instead of “using a statewide campaign as a platform for racial division.” And state Rep. Drew Darby lamented that he has “never seen conduct so unbecoming of a Railroad Commissioner or candidate in that time.”

Darby’s call for French to apologize came with a threat.

“If not, I would remind any candidate that the Texas Legislature has granted the Railroad Commission broad discretion in carrying out its duties — because we have trusted the competence and fairness of those who serve. That trust can be revisited,” Darby, who chairs the House’s Energy Resources committee, added in his post on X.

“If Mr. French wants to regulate immigration policy, he should have run for Congress.”

It's not to be overlooked that French won the GOP primary to get on the November ballot. Nor that:

This was not the first time that elected Texas Republican officials have blasted French for his racist remarks, but it remains to be seen whether these criticisms would blunt his rise to statewide office.

Gov. Abbott and Lite Guv Dan Patrick both criticized French for his racism, until he won his primary. Then, oddly, it didn’t seem to matter. As I said before, I think Cornyn is just waking up to how racist his party is, now that it’s through with him.