Bo French, a Republican candidate for Texas Railroad Commissioner, sparked widespread anti-Indian sentiment by posting an image he incorrectly labeled as a graduation photo at the University of Texas and criticizing its diversity. The post went viral, with many Republicans distancing themselves from it; however, French did not retract or apologize for his comments but instead launched a fundraising campaign using the controversy to support his candidacy in the 2026 election. This incident has also led to broader anti-Hindu sentiments online, drawing condemnation from Senator John Cornyn and prompting backlash within Republican circles over the use of bigotry for political gain.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-16,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Bo French triggered a major anti-India hate campaign on social media this weekend that gained him much prominence, as those who did not know who Bo French was are now aware that he is a Republican candidate for Texas Railroad Commissioner in the November 3, 2026 Texas general election.
asserted
he → trigger → election
He posted a photo of students cheering at a football game at the University of Texas as a graduation photo and commented with disdain about the diversity in the photo, as many students were South Asian.
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students → post → photo
Several Republicans distanced themselves from the racist post that French did not take back.
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French → distance → that
Neither did he apologize for it.
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he → apologize → it
Instead, he doubled down as his racist post gained traction, and then he quickly shared the link to donate to his campaign.
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he → double → campaign
"The Texas Railroad Commission needs a commissioner dedicated to Texas Energy Growth.
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Commission → need → Growth
Bo French is an experienced energy executive who supports oil and gas and wants to help small business thrive," the donation site read.
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site → support → oil
"Radical Democrat Jon Rosenthal (his rival) is a Left-wing activist who wants higher taxes and California-style environmental regulations that will choke small business and threaten the Texas Miracle," it added.
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it → want → Miracle
It all started here: Bo French posted this celebration photo and mislabeled it as the graduation photo of University of Texas and commented on the ethnicity of the students.
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French → start → students
After his racist post went viral, Bo French stated seeking donations.
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French → go → donations
'We all make mistakes...'
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We → make → mistakes
No, French did not say this.
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French → say → this
He said he did not have anything against the people in that picture.
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he → say → picture
"I think that the bigger conversation is, are we going to have policies to prioritize Americans … or are we going to have policies that prioritize foreigners?
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that → think → foreigners
And I think most people in the America First movement think we ought to be prioritizing Americans," he said on Mark Davis Show, as reported by The Texas Tribune.
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he → think → Tribune
On the backlash that he received from his party, he said those very critics donated to his campaign or helped raise fund.
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critics → receive → fund
“The establishment raised and spent $7 million against me in the primary,” French said.
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French → raise → primary
“Many of the people who criticized me yesterday were some of the same people involved in that effort.
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who → criticize → effort
It’s no surprise that the less-conservative people in Texas are the ones attacking me.”
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people → ’ → me
Texas Senator John Cornyn (Republican) condemned the fundraising through the viral racist post.
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Cornyn → condemn → post
"We all make mistakes but what does he do?
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he → make → what
We should all condemn this bigotry directed at our fellow Texans or we will soon find ourselves a minority party," Cornyn wrote.
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Cornyn → condemn → Texans
Anti-India sentiment leads to anti-Hindu comments
The anti-India sentiment soon gave way to an anti-Hindu narrative on social media and statues of Hindu idols present in various parts of Texas, because of the diverse population of the state, became the flashpoint.
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statues → lead → state
Coalition of Hindus in North America condemned the participation of prominent activists, writers, and aspiring politicians in the hate spiel.
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Coalition → condemn → spiel
"We say if it looks, speaks and quacks like a duck-we call it a duck.
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it → say → it
And it looks, speaks and shouts its hate of Hinduism from the rooftops, we call it for the anti-Hindu bigotry and Hinduphobia that it is," the coalition said.
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coalition → look → bigotry
Hindu American Foundation urged elected leaders to condemn this hate rhetoric as Senator Cornyn did.
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Cornyn → urge → rhetoric
It really is that simple," HAF said.
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HAF → say → ?
Bo French counts followers and donations
Bo French, meanwhile, was caught busy counting his X followers after his racist posts and the subsequent posts he made doubling down on his stand.
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he → count → stand
He thanked 'patriots' for donations and follow on X.
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He → thank → donations
French is a Fort Worth-area businessman, rancher and former energy trader who previously chaired the Tarrant County Republican Party.
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who → chair → Party
He has been active in conservative politics and previously ran unsuccessfully for the Texas House.
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He → run → House
The election for which he's raising money is significant as despite the name, the Railroad Commission does not regulate railroads.
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Commission → raise → railroads
It is the state's powerful regulator of the oil and gas industry, including drilling permits, pipelines, production and aspects of environmental and safety regulation.
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It → include → regulation
Texas has three elected Railroad Commissioners, each serving six-year terms.
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each → have → terms
French defeated incumbent Republican Jim Wright in the May 26 runoff, winning 50.6% to Wright's 49.4%, and therefore became the Republican nominee for November.
uncertain
French → defeat → November
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