Politics

Texas GOP Candidate Loses Railroad Commission Race After Controversial Remarks About Indian-Americans

By Chidanand Rajghatta

Bo French, a Texas Republican candidate for the state Railroad Commission, was defeated by Democrat Jon Rosenthal in a race that saw the GOP lose a high‑profile statewide seat. French lost by more than 600,000 votes, a result that underscored the political cost of his remarks about Indian‑American students.

On September 13, French posted a photo on X of students in brown clothing celebrating a University of Texas football victory. He wrote that the event looked like a graduation and suggested that Americans were being displaced by foreigners, a claim that was widely criticized. The post was condemned by Republican Senator John Cornyn, a long‑time advocate of U.S.–India relations, who called French an embarrassment to the GOP. Other Texas Republicans also criticized the comments.

The backlash came at a time when Texas Republicans have invested heavily in courting Indian‑American voters. Cornyn has promoted closer ties with India, Governor Greg Abbott has led trade missions to the country, and the state hosted a Trump‑Modi rally in Houston in 2019. French’s remarks, however, highlighted a growing tension within the party over immigration and the role of Indian‑American communities.

The controversy coincided with rising hostility toward Indian immigrants in North Texas suburbs such as Frisco, Plano and Irving, where Indian‑American populations are significant. Local council meetings have seen accusations that H‑1B visa holders are taking jobs from Americans, and an online campaign has targeted H‑1B workers with personal information. Abbott’s decision to freeze new H‑1B visa processing at state agencies and public universities added to community anxiety.

In the weeks before the election, Abbott made remarks that critics said echoed a white‑primacy narrative, and a 90‑foot Hanuman statue in Sugar Land attracted threats from MAGA activists. These events, combined with French’s comments, unsettled many Indian‑American voters who had historically supported Republican candidates.

The election outcome prompted several Republicans to distance themselves from French. Avik Roy, co‑founder of a Texas think‑tank, said he had voted against every Republican on his ballot who endorsed French, including Abbott, Paxton, Dawn Buckingham and French himself. All four candidates lost the night.

The result serves as a warning to the Texas GOP about the electoral risks of alienating Indian‑American voters while pursuing a broader anti‑immigration agenda.