Republican voters will decide the party’s nominee for the Texas Railroad Commission in a runoff after no candidate secured a majority in Tuesday’s primary election. Unofficial results show incumbent Jim Wright and challenger Bo French advancing to the next round, with neither surpassing the 50% threshold required to avoid a runoff.
With the race now headed to a runoff, Republican voters will return to the polls to determine who will advance to the general election in November.
The winner will face Democratic state Rep. Jon Rosenthal of Houston, who did not draw a primary opponent. No Democrat has won a seat on the three-member commission since 1995, underscoring the uphill climb facing Rosenthal in a statewide race.
Despite its name, the Texas Railroad Commission no longer oversees railroads. Instead, it serves as the primary regulator of the state’s oil and gas industry, one of the largest in the United States. The commission’s decisions affect drilling permits, pipeline safety, and environmental compliance, shaping both the state’s economy and its environmental landscape.
This year’s election arrives during a period of transition for the energy sector. Oil and gas companies are adjusting their business models amid shifting global demand and investor pressures. Many firms are expanding their involvement in natural gas production and exploring opportunities tied to growing energy needs from data centers and other infrastructure. Carbon capture has also emerged as a significant area of investment, bolstered by federal tax incentives approved as part of legislation signed by Donald Trump. Supporters say the incentives encourage construction of facilities designed to capture and store carbon emissions, while critics question their long-term environmental and fiscal impact.
At the same time, the commission faces mounting challenges within Texas. Regulators are addressing a backlog of abandoned oil and gas wells, some of which have become conduits for industrial wastewater that has surfaced unexpectedly. The issue has raised concerns about groundwater safety and the costs associated with plugging and remediation.
Wright has previously pointed to commission efforts to manage produced water, the byproduct of oil and gas extraction. He has said the agency is overseeing initiatives aimed at treating and repurposing the wastewater for use in drought-stricken communities. Advocates argue that, if successfully treated, produced water could help supplement limited supplies and reduce pressure on traditional water sources.
French, whose family owns Midland-based French Oil Company, entered the race after stepping down as chair of the Tarrant County Republican Party. Campaign finance filings show he raised more than $279,000 during the primary, making him the second-highest fundraiser in the field behind Wright.
During the campaign, French emphasized issues beyond the commission’s traditional regulatory scope. He pledged to push for tighter restrictions on foreign ownership of Texas land and said he would review diversity-related initiatives at the agency, with the goal of eliminating funding he believes is improperly allocated. His campaign also drew attention for controversial proposals regarding citizenship policies affecting Native Americans.
French received endorsements from several Republican-aligned organizations ahead of the primary, including Texas Values and multiple regional conservative groups. As the runoff approaches, both candidates are expected to intensify their outreach to Republican voters in a contest that will determine who represents the party in a high-profile regulatory role overseeing Texas’ energy future.
