Washington: Republican candidate Bo French has conceded defeat to Democrat Jon Rosenthal in the high-profile election for Texas Railroad Commissioner, bringing an end to decades of unbroken Republican control over the state's powerful energy regulator. Rosenthal declared victory on Tuesday night following the concession, although official final results are still pending.
French's campaign faced intense backlash after he published controversial social media posts in September. In one post, he shared an image from a Texas university event showing a predominantly South Asian crowd, writing that he could not believe what graduation looked like and claiming the problem was far worse than imagined. In a subsequent post on the same day, he compared social media to body-cams exposing criminals, stating that it revealed how many Americans had been displaced by foreigners.
The remarks drew widespread condemnation from users across the globe, including from India. Acknowledging the outcome, French stated on election night that it was not the result his campaign had hoped for, while expressing gratitude to his supporters for their dedication and friendship.
The Texas Railroad Commission is responsible for overseeing the state's vast oil and gas industry. Its regulatory duties include supervising drilling operations, managing pipelines, overseeing natural gas facilities, and handling environmental responsibilities such as the closure of unused wells and the disposal of oil-field waste. French's departure from the race clears the path for Rosenthal to take office, altering the political landscape of the key regulatory body.