Bo French triggered a major anti-India hate campaign on social media this weekend that gained him much prominence, as those who did not know who Bo French was are now aware that he is a Republican candidate for Texas Railroad Commissioner in the November 3, 2026 Texas general election. He posted a photo of students cheering at a football game at the University of Texas as a graduation photo and commented with disdain about the diversity in the photo, as many students were South Asian. Several Republicans distanced themselves from the racist post that French did not take back. Neither did he apologize for it.Instead, he doubled down as his racist post gained traction, and then he quickly shared the link to donate to his campaign. “The Texas Railroad Commission needs a commissioner dedicated to Texas Energy Growth. Bo French is an experienced energy executive who supports oil and gas and wants to help small business thrive,” the donation site read. “Radical Democrat Jon Rosenthal (his rival) is a Left-wing activist who wants higher taxes and California-style environmental regulations that will choke small business and threaten the Texas Miracle,” it added.
It all started here: Bo French posted this celebration photo and mislabeled it as the graduation photo of University of Texas and commented on the ethnicity of the students.
After his racist post went viral, Bo French stated seeking donations.
‘We all make mistakes…’
No, French did not say this. He said he did not have anything against the people in that picture. “I think that the bigger conversation is, are we going to have policies to prioritize Americans … or are we going to have policies that prioritize foreigners? And I think most people in the America First movement think we ought to be prioritizing Americans,” he said on Mark Davis Show, as reported by The Texas Tribune.On the backlash that he received from his party, he said those very critics donated to his campaign or helped raise fund. “The establishment raised and spent $7 million against me in the primary,” French said. “Many of the people who criticized me yesterday were some of the same people involved in that effort. It’s no surprise that the less-conservative people in Texas are the ones attacking me.”Texas Senator John Cornyn (Republican) condemned the fundraising through the viral racist post. “We all make mistakes but what does he do? No takedown of offensive post, no apology. Just doubles down and raises $ using it. The Republican Party is better than this. We should all condemn this bigotry directed at our fellow Texans or we will soon find ourselves a minority party,” Cornyn wrote.
Anti-India sentiment leads to anti-Hindu comments
The anti-India sentiment soon gave way to an anti-Hindu narrative on social media and statues of Hindu idols present in various parts of Texas, because of the diverse population of the state, became the flashpoint. Coalition of Hindus in North America condemned the participation of prominent activists, writers, and aspiring politicians in the hate spiel. “We say if it looks, speaks and quacks like a duck-we call it a duck. And it looks, speaks and shouts its hate of Hinduism from the rooftops, we call it for the anti-Hindu bigotry and Hinduphobia that it is,” the coalition said.Hindu American Foundation urged elected leaders to condemn this hate rhetoric as Senator Cornyn did. “If religious freedom is American, then Hindus are American. It really is that simple,” HAF said.
Bo French counts followers and donations
Bo French, meanwhile, was caught busy counting his X followers after his racist posts and the subsequent posts he made doubling down on his stand. He thanked ‘patriots’ for donations and follow on X.French is a Fort Worth-area businessman, rancher and former energy trader who previously chaired the Tarrant County Republican Party. He has been active in conservative politics and previously ran unsuccessfully for the Texas House. The election for which he’s raising money is significant as despite the name, the Railroad Commission does not regulate railroads. It is the state’s powerful regulator of the oil and gas industry, including drilling permits, pipelines, production and aspects of environmental and safety regulation. Texas has three elected Railroad Commissioners, each serving six-year terms.French defeated incumbent Republican Jim Wright in the May 26 runoff, winning 50.6% to Wright’s 49.4%, and therefore became the Republican nominee for November.
