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Republican Nomination for Texas Railroad Commission Sparks Controversy
By Drooid · · How we work
Republican Nomination for Texas Railroad Commission
In the recent primary, John French secured the Republican nomination for the Texas Railroad Commission, defeating incumbent Commissioner Jim Wright. The commission oversees regulation of Texas’s oil and gas industry, a pivotal sector for the state’s economy.
Political Endorsements and Opposition
Incumbent Wright entered the race with endorsements from Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, and House Speaker Dustin Burrows. Despite this high-level backing, French prevailed in the May primary, signaling a shift within the party’s base toward more hard-line candidates.
French’s Controversial Statements
French has repeatedly voiced extremist positions. He has asked followers on social media to identify the “bigger threat” to America, concluding that Islam “is the bigger threat.” French also advocated deporting 100 million people from the United States. These remarks were made during a panel titled “Don’t Sharia My Texas” at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Grapevine, Texas, in March.
Official Responses
Governor Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Patrick, and Speaker Burrows publicly supported Wright, emphasizing the importance of experienced regulation for the energy sector. No direct response from French’s campaign to the criticism of his statements was provided in the source material.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I’m going to say something that’s going to make some people uncomfortable: The problem is, we call it sharia [law], but the problem is actually Islam,” — Speaker Dustin Burrows. French
These elements illustrate the tension between traditional Republican establishment figures and a nominee whose rhetoric centers on anti-Muslim sentiment and radical policy proposals, raising questions about the future direction of Texas energy regulation.