Democratic candidate Jon Rosenthal raises more money than Bo French in Texas Railroad Commissioner race
Jon Rosenthal's campaign collected roughly $488,000, surpassing Bo French's $439,000 after French's controversial racist post went viral.
Democratic state Rep. Jon Rosenthal has raised approximately $488,000 for his bid for Texas Railroad Commissioner, outpacing Republican Bo French, who raised $439,000. Rosenthal's fundraising surge followed French's viral racist post on X, drawing nationwide small donors, with Texas contributors making up 60% of the total. Nearly $90,000 came from the Lone Star Project, a D.C.-based PAC, and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker donated $25,000.
French's top donor was Texans United for a Conservative Majority, linked to oil businessman Tim Dunn, which gave $100,000 and spent close to $500,000 in-kind support; he also received $25,000 from NGL PAC and $10,000 from incumbent Commissioner Wayne Christian. Despite courting the sector, neither candidate secured contributions from the Texas Oil and Gas Association Good Government Committee, ExxonMobil, or Chevron, which have historically backed Republican candidates. The race pits two sharply different approaches for a commission that regulates half of the nation’s oil output.
Why it matters
Fundraising differences may shape the outcome of a pivotal Texas election that controls a major portion of U.S. oil production.
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