The race for the Texas Railroad Commission, a crucial regulatory body overseeing the state’s massive energy sector, has intensified as the two candidates reported a combined $1.3 million in fundraising for the latest reporting period. The surge in contributions comes amid a tightly contested dead-heat race and follows significant controversy surrounding the Republican nominee.
GOP candidate Bo French, who faced widespread backlash from his own party last month after a viral post on X targeting Southeast Asian students, reported raising approximately $748,000 between Sept. 25 and Oct. 24. Despite the controversy, this period marked his second-highest fundraising haul since entering the race. French spent nearly $1 million during the same timeframe, leaving him with $434,508 in cash on hand, bolstered by a $100,000 loan.
French’s financial support remains heavily anchored by influential figures in the oil and gas industry. His campaign received a $200,000 contribution from Richard Sands, an executive at LRG Energy LLC, which oversees thousands of wells in the Texas Panhandle. Additionally, Texas United for a Conservative Majority, a political action committee primarily funded by West Texas oil billionaire Tim Dunn, contributed $300,000. Public records show that at least $600,000 of French’s recent spending has been funneled into television advertising and direct mailers.
His Democratic opponent, state Rep. Jon Rosenthal of Cypress, enjoyed his most successful fundraising period to date, bringing in $524,245. Rosenthal’s campaign total has now eclipsed $1 million, with $561,552 remaining in his coffers as the election enters its final stages.
Rosenthal’s donor list features a broad coalition of contributors, including Houston philanthropist Susan Sarofim, who provided $100,000, and Austin attorney R. Stephen McNally, who donated $40,000. The campaign also received a $25,000 contribution from Rishi Bhutada, a Houston-based manufacturing executive. Unlike his opponent’s aggressive spending on traditional media, Rosenthal directed $242,000 toward VoteShift, a consulting firm focused on digital outreach, event coordination, and social media strategy.
The outcome of this race will determine the composition of the three-member commission, which currently holds an all-Republican majority. The agency wields immense power over the Texas energy landscape, including the regulation of carbon storage, the issuance of environmental violations, and the oversight of the state’s expansive pipeline network. With Texas producing nearly half of the nation’s oil last year, the commission is widely viewed as the most critical regulatory body in the state.
Despite French consistently out-raising Rosenthal throughout the campaign cycle—largely through the backing of conservative titans like Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks—recent polling indicates the two candidates remain neck and neck. With both campaigns hitting record levels of spending, the final stretch is poised to be a high-stakes battle for the seat that will shape the future of Texas energy production.
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