A prominent Republican candidate seeking statewide office in Texas has triggered widespread condemnation from within his own party after publishing a racially charged social media post targeting minority college football fans. Bo French, who is campaigning for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission, sparked fierce backlash following his remarks disparaging students celebrating a major athletic victory.
The controversy reached a boiling point when veteran Republican strategist Karl Rove publicly denounced French as "a bigot." Speaking before attendees at a private gathering in Austin, the former senior adviser to President George W. Bush declared that he could not endorse or cast a ballot for French in the upcoming general election.
In a dramatic departure from his long-standing political allegiances, Rove announced that he plans to cross party lines to vote for the Democratic nominee, Houston representative Jon Rosenthal. The decision marks the end of a 32-year streak in which Rove had exclusively cast his support behind Republican candidates.
The catalyst for the dispute was an image French shared on X, formerly known as Twitter. The photograph featured a group of non-Caucasian students dressed in school gear celebrating after the University of Texas Longhorns pulled off a fourth-quarter comeback victory against top-ranked Ohio State. French captioned the picture by stating he had previously doubted claims regarding the demographic makeup of recent graduation ceremonies, adding that the situation was "obviously far worse than anyone imagined."
French’s post drew sharp scrutiny not only for its tone but also for its unfounded assumptions regarding the students' origins. Without knowing their background or legal residency, the candidate appeared to treat the Asian students as foreigners. According to Texas Global data, fewer than 10 percent of the university's 55,000 enrolled students are international scholars, directly contradicting assumptions that non-white attendees are outsiders.
The episode highlights how formerly marginal and exclusionary narratives have increasingly seeped into mainstream Republican discourse, testing the boundaries of acceptable campaign speech and exposing deep ideological divides within the party.
High-profile Texas Republicans quickly moved to repudiate French’s comments. U.S. Senator John Cornyn took to social media to voice his sharp disapproval, issuing a stern warning about the long-term political dangers of normalizing discriminatory language against constituents.
Cornyn, an establishment figure who recently lost his re-election primary battle to state Attorney General Ken Paxton, stressed that the party must stand against bigotry aimed at fellow Texans or risk shrinking into a minority party. His rebuke followed French’s subsequent effort to solicit campaign donations centered around the contentious post.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott likewise distanced himself from the Railroad Commission candidate's characterization. While known for his conservative policies, Abbott told Politico that French’s statements did not reflect his outlook. Abbott highlighted how college sports serve to unite the state, arguing that Texans rallying behind their athletic programs represents shared identity rather than division.
Other state lawmakers echoed these concerns. Republican State Senator Lacey Hull urged French to delete the message entirely, sharing on social media that seeing young people cheer for their team represented the true spirit of Texans rather than a reason for grievance.
Higher education leaders also rallied behind the student body. Kevin Eltife, who chairs the University of Texas System Board of Regents, released a public statement praising the diverse group of fans. Eltife noted that the celebratory scene was reflective of campus life and commencement ceremonies, expressing pride in all Longhorn students.
Despite mounting criticism from party leaders and university officials, French remained unapologetic. During an interview on a radio program hosted by Mark Davis, the candidate dismissed his detractors as political adversaries who were fundamentally "less conservative."
Defending his stance, French framed the uproar as an extension of factional primary warfare. He pointed out that establishment figures had poured approximately $7 million into efforts to defeat him earlier in the year, asserting that the same forces were simply using this latest controversy to continue their political assault.
The controversy involving French comes amid a broader pattern of contentious candidates running in midterm races across Texas and beyond. Other hopefuls, such as congressional candidate Brandon Herrera—known online as "the AK guy"—have similarly drawn scrutiny for past incendiary conduct, including derogatory online videos and comments regarding Nazi-era weapons that previously drew condemnation from groups like the Republican Jewish Coalition.
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