The RINO Revolt Against Bo French

Austin, TX – Texas RINOs Karl Rove, John Cornyn, Dade Phelan and Drew Darby unite against Bo French and support his opponent, Jon Rosenthal (D) for Texas Railroad Commissioner. Illustrating to MAGA Texans why the group of should no longer be included in Texas Politics.

The reason is a social-media fight that erupted Sunday after the University of Texas defeated Ohio State in a wild football comeback. French posted a photograph of foreign students celebrating in the stands and questioned what he described as the growing presence of “foreign nationals” and “Leftists” at UT. The post immediately triggered a political firestorm.

Cornyn condemned the post as “intolerance and racism.” Phelan called French “unfit for office.” Darby, chairman of the House Energy Resources Committee, called the conduct, “unbecoming of a Railroad Commissioner candidate” and demanded an apology.

Then came Karl Rove. Rove, the longtime Republican strategist who hasn’t made a correct prediction since George W. Bush was President, reportedly told attendees at a private Austin luncheon that he would vote for Democrat Jon Rosenthal rather than French. According to The Texas Tribune, Rove described French as a “bigot” and said the decision would break roughly 30 years of voting only for Republicans.

That is a remarkable development in a Republican party that already exposed deep divisions between the Texas GOP establishment and its more populist wing.

French has not backed down.

On X, French followed the political critics with, “I cheered the win for the team. It was a great game. But I weep for the families in Texas who can’t get into UT because they prioritize foreigners over Texans. Shame on you for ignoring that fact.“

On conservative radio Monday, he argued that many of the people attacking him were connected to the establishment effort that spent millions trying to defeat him in the Republican primary. He characterized his critics as less conservative than himself and pointed specifically at Cornyn.

French’s opponent, Jon Rosenthal, is a Houston Democrat and state representative who is campaigning for the three-member Railroad Commission, the agency responsible for regulating Texas’ oil and gas industry. Rosenthal has used the controversy to attack French directly and promote his own professional background in the energy industry.

French portrays himself as a Texas-first conservative willing to challenge institutions and Republican leaders he believes have failed to protect Texas interests. He is a Midland-born businessman and energy investor whose family owns French Oil Company. He has spent decades in the energy and investment world, including work as an equity trader at Carlson Capital and management roles with several investment firms. He also operates French Capital Partners.

Politically, however, he became much better known as chairman of the Tarrant County Republican Party, a position he held from 2023 until stepping down in 2025 to run for Railroad Commissioner.

For the Republicans now lining up against Bo French, there may be a larger question waiting after the votes are counted: what happens when the voters they have spent years taking for granted decide they’ve had enough?

Cornyn, Phelan, Darby and Rove represent different corners of the old Republican establishment, but their opposition to French has put them on the same side of a very public fight. And when prominent Republicans openly criticize their party’s nominee, or even say they will support the Democrat running against him, ordinary Republican voters are entitled to notice.

The ballot box has a funny way of settling arguments that Austin’s political class would rather settle in conference rooms.

Whether voters see French as a representative of where the Texas GOP is headed, or as a candidate whose rhetoric has gone too far, November will provide a test of where Republican voters actually stand. And beyond the Railroad Commission race, the election may leave some longtime Republican power brokers facing a very uncomfortable question: are they still speaking for the voters who put them in office?

If the answer from those voters is no, some familiar names may discover that political relevance is not a lifetime appointment. Elections have a way of cleaning house.