Jon Rosenthal Wins Texas Railroad Commission Seat

Democrat Jon Rosenthal has won a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission, defeating Republican nominee Bo French, according to The Guardian. NBC News projected the race for Rosenthal, and French conceded on Tuesday night, according to the Texas Tribune.

With about 93% of votes counted, CBS News reported Rosenthal leading French 52.5% to 45.6%. Rosenthal declared victory in a post on X.

The Railroad Commission is a three-member body that regulates Texas's multibillion-dollar oil and gas industry. Despite its name, it has not overseen railroads since 2005. Rosenthal will serve a six-year term.

Rosenthal is a Texas state representative. He worked for 25 years as an oil and gas engineer, and he campaigned on lowering utility rates and on ensuring clean water and air. According to the Texas Tribune, he is the first Democrat to hold a seat on the commission in 32 years. The Guardian reported that Democrats had been shut out of the commission for decades before his win.

French, a former Republican Party chair for Tarrant County, which includes Fort Worth, has a family that runs an oil company in west Texas. His campaign drew national attention in September, when, according to The Guardian, he posted on X about South Asian American students at a University of Texas football game. In those posts, he suggested that the students' presence was evidence that foreigners were displacing Americans.

The same outlet reported that in June 2025 French asked his X followers whether Jews or Muslims posed a greater threat to America. Senator John Cornyn was among prominent Texas Republicans who denounced French.

The race was one of several on Texas's ballot in the November 3, 2026, election, and the commission's three seats are filled by statewide vote.