Railroad Commission Nominees Bo French and Jon Rosenthal Raised $1.3 Million Combined in the Latest Filing Period
Republican Bo French reported about $748,000 raised from September 25 to October 24, and Democrat Jon Rosenthal posted his best period yet at $524,245, in the race for the commission that regulates Texas oil and gas.
The nominees for Texas Railroad Commissioner raised about $1.3 million combined in the latest campaign finance period, according to reports covering September 25 to October 24 that were summarized Wednesday from Texas Tribune reporting. Republican Bo French raised about $748,000, and Democratic state Rep. Jon Rosenthal of Cypress raised $524,245 — his best fundraising period yet — in the race for the commission that regulates the state's oil and gas industry.
French's donors included Texas United for a Conservative Majority, a political committee largely funded by West Texas oil billionaire Tim Dunn, at $300,000, and oil executive Richard Sands at $200,000, the Tribune reported. French reported about $434,500 on hand heading into the final days. Rosenthal, a former oil field engineer and four-term state representative who has pitched himself as a pro-drilling Democrat, reported about $561,500 on hand — more cash banked than his opponent despite raising less in the period.
The money race sits inside one of the closest statewide contests on the Texas ballot. A University of Houston Hobby School poll conducted October 10–14, carried in this station's down-ballot roundup, put French ahead of Rosenthal 45 percent to 43 percent, with 10 percent undecided. French ousted incumbent Jim Wright in the Republican primary.
French drew backlash from within his own party last month over a post on X about Asian students, the Tribune noted. Early voting in the November 3 general election runs through Friday, October 30.
