Jon Rosenthal will become the first Democrat since 1990 to join the three-member Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates the state's vast energy sector. The race gained unexpected national prominence after Republican Bo French posted critical comments about South Asian students at a University of Texas football game. French continually defended his remarks, prompting criticism from university alumni, students, and some fellow Republicans. Rosenthal campaigned on his industry experience as an engineer, promising to increase regulatory oversight on polluters and natural gas facilities.
Key points
Democratic control returns to the Texas energy regulatory panel after more than three dec…: Democratic control returns to the Texas energy regulatory panel after more than three decades of continuous Republican leadership.
The new commissioner plans to enact stronger environmental oversight regarding industrial…: The new commissioner plans to enact stronger environmental oversight regarding industrial polluters, pipelines, and wastewater disposal sites.
Widespread controversy surrounding Bo French's comments elevated a typically quiet regula…: Widespread controversy surrounding Bo French's comments elevated a typically quiet regulatory race into a prominent national contest.
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Democrat Jon Rosenthal has defeated Republican Bo French in the race for the Texas Railroad Commission, marking a historic win for his party and ending more than three decades of Republican control over the powerful oil and gas regulator.
Rosenthal will be the first Democrat on the commission since 1990.
The contest drew national attention after French, a former Tarrant County Republican Party chairman, sparked a controversy over a social media post targeting South Asian students at the University of Texas at Austin. In September, he shared a photograph of students cheering at a football game and wrote: "I heard UT graduation this year looked like this. I didn't believe it. The problem is now obviously far worse than anyone imagined."
French's remarks prompted criticism from students, alumni and several Republicans. He also faced accusations of portraying Asian American students as foreigners without knowing their citizenship or residency status. Some of the students in the photograph were of Indian origin.
The response on campus became a separate point of debate. University of Texas President Jim Davis issued a statement saying…
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