Incumbent Texas Railroad Commissioner Jim Wright and former Tarrant County Republican Party chairman Bo French are headed to a Republican runoff election on May 26 after neither candidate secured a majority in the March 3 primary for the powerful statewide regulatory post.
Wright narrowly led the primary field with 32.1 percent of the vote, while French followed closely behind with 31.75 percent, setting up a contentious runoff that has exposed divisions within Texas Republican politics over energy policy, party loyalty, and cultural issues.
The Railroad Commission of Texas is the state’s oldest regulatory agency. Originally established to oversee railroads, most of that authority transferred to the Texas Department of Transportation in 2005. Today, the commission primarily regulates Texas’ oil and gas industry while enforcing pipeline safety standards and several federal environmental laws.
Railroad commissioners are elected statewide to staggered six-year terms. Wright currently serves alongside commissioners Wayne Christian and Christi Craddick. Both Christian and Craddick have endorsed Wright in the runoff.
Wright has also secured endorsements from several of Texas’ top Republican officials, including Greg Abbott, Dan Patrick, Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows, Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, and Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller. Additional endorsements include state Sen. Angela Paxton, Mattie Parker, and the Texas Oil and Gas Association Good Government Committee.
French, meanwhile, has built support among conservative grassroots activists and right-wing organizations. He is endorsed by Turning Point Action, Congressman Keith Self, state Rep. Steve Toth, congressional candidate Brandon Herrera, and state Reps. Mitch Little, Brent Money, Wes Virdell, and Andy Hopper. He has also received support from Parker County Conservatives and Wise County Conservatives.
The runoff campaign has become increasingly heated, with French centering much of his campaign on what he describes as the “Islamic invasion of Texas.” French has also claimed he received death threats from militant Islamists during the campaign.
French previously faced criticism from Republican leaders after posting a poll on X asking whether Jews or Muslims were “a bigger threat to America.” Patrick publicly called for French’s “immediate resignation and replacement,” stating that antisemitism and religious bigotry “have no place in Texas.” French declined to resign and said he has “always strongly supported Israel.”
The race intensified further in late April when French accused Wright of having connections to Saudi interests. In an April 27 press release, French alleged Wright had “close ties” to an “official auxiliary of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” citing permits approved for the Saudi Arabia Basic Industries Corporation, commonly known as SABIC.
French argued SABIC operates according to Saudi Arabia’s “laws and regulations that are driven from Islamic values and laws (Sharia).”
Wright’s campaign rejected those claims in an April 28 response, stating, “The ExxonMobil joint venture with SABIC was never issued a permit by the Texas Railroad Commission. Moreover, that particular project was originally permitted by the TCEQ back in 2019, long before Jim Wright ever entered public life.”
Wright’s campaign also referenced a 2017 announcement in which Abbott described the SABIC-ExxonMobil partnership as a “record-breaking project” and a “tremendous win” for Texas.
French has additionally attempted to portray Wright as insufficiently conservative by highlighting his past political donations to Democratic candidates. French referred to Wright as a “Democratic Megadonor,” noting contributions Wright previously made to former Democratic state Rep. Abel Herrero, former Republican House Speaker Joe Straus, and former Democratic lieutenant governor nominee Leticia Van de Putte.
Patrick has defended Wright publicly, posting on social media, “With high gasoline prices and a volatile market, we need an experienced leader like Jim Wright.”
French has framed the runoff as a choice between conservative and establishment Republican politics.
“Do they want a Republican nominee for Railroad Commission who is a Republican, or one who is a Democrat?” French asked.
Wright responded by explaining that many of his past contributions were made while working in South Texas politics.
“I'm from South Texas, and the only thing that dominates politics in South Texas are usually Democrats,” Wright said. “The person that I've given my money to was a very conservative side of the Democratic Party that actually helped move our oil and gas industry.”
French has also criticized Wright over diversity initiatives and energy policy, accusing him of bringing “massive amounts” of diversity, equity, and inclusion policies to the commission and supporting what he called the “Green New Scam.”
Wright countered by emphasizing the commission’s regulatory role.
“It's important that Texas recognizes that the Railroad Commission of Texas is a regulatory agency,” Wright said. “We do not set legislation. We take mandates by legislation, and we create the rules for those industries that we’re over.”
More recently, French highlighted a $500,000 contribution Wright received from the pro-gambling Texas Sands PAC, funded by Las Vegas Sands owner Miriam Adelson.
“Ask yourself, why would the casino lobby be trying to buy a non-legislative statewide seat on the RRC?” French said.
Wright dismissed the criticism, saying the Railroad Commission has “absolutely nothing to do with legalizing gaming in Texas.”
Wright also tied Adelson’s support to criticism of French’s rhetoric regarding Jewish people and Israel.
“Dr. Adelson and I stand firmly with the state of Israel, and I join conservative leaders across Texas in condemning his ignorant bigotry,” Wright wrote.
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