The Texas Oil and Gas Association, a trade group that represents companies including Exxon Mobil and Chevron, distributed an endorsement list on Monday that did not mention Bo French. French is the Republican candidate for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission, the three-member board that oversees oilfield regulation in the state. The group had endorsed French earlier, days before a post on X in which French described a group of non-white Longhorn fans as a "problem." President Donald Trump also did not include French in social media posts listing Republican candidates in Texas.
The association could not be reached for comment. Democratic candidate Jon Rosenthal, a state representative, said French's absence from the list "speaks for itself." He said French "does not seem to reflect the values that our industry forwards" and that he was surprised the group endorsed French in the first place.
Karr Ingham, president of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, said his group does not endorse candidates. He said Rosenthal has been more active in engaging with the group than Democratic candidates have historically been. Ingham said there is "a reasonable chance he may win that race." No Democrat has held a seat on the Railroad Commission since 1994.