Jon Rosenthal wins Texas regulator race after Bo French concedes

Republican Bo French conceded the Texas Railroad Commissioner election to Democrat Jon Rosenthal. The upset breaks decades of complete Republican control over the energy regulator.Image used for representational purposes onlyWashington,Nov 4, 2026 13:32 ISTRepublican candidate Bo French has conceded defeat to Democrat Jon Rosenthal in the election for Texas Railroad Commissioner after facing widespread criticism over social media posts described as racist, news agency Press Trust of India reported.Rosenthal declared victory after French conceded on Tuesday night, although the final results are yet to be announced. The result marked an upset that ended decades of complete Republican control over the commission, according to the Texas Tribune.French faced criticism after posting an image from an event at a Texas university that showed a gathering of predominantly South Asian people, including Indians.“I heard UT graduation this year looked like this. I didn't believe it. The problem is now obviously far worse than anyone imagined,” he wrote on social media in September. In another post on the same day, French said: “Like body-cams exposed criminals, social media is exposing how many Americans have been displaced by foreigners. It's everywhere and far worse than any of us could imagine.”His remarks drew criticism on social media from people across the world, including India, PTI reported. Conceding defeat, French wrote: “Tonight wasn't the night our campaign had hoped for.” He thanked his supporters, saying: “I will never forget your dedication, your friendship, and, above all, your love for the great state of Texas.”The Texas Railroad Commission oversees the state's oil and gas industry, including drilling, pipelines, natural gas facilities, the closure of unused wells and oil-field waste, according to Fox 4.French's concession cleared the way for Rosenthal to claim victory in the Texas Railroad Commissioner election, with the final results still awaited.With PTI Inputs- Ends