Karl Rove breaks 30-year GOP voting streak to oppose Texas candidate Bo French

Key points

• Karl Rove stated at a private Austin event that he will vote for Houston Democrat Jon Rosenthal, calling French a 'bigot.'
• French posted on X a photo of mostly non-White UT students celebrating a football win, claiming 'social media is exposing how many Americans have been displaced by foreigners.'
• French doubled down on the comments, labeling critics as 'less conservative' and using the controversy for fundraising.
• Gov. Greg Abbott and Sen. John Cornyn condemned the post, with Abbott stating it did not reflect his message of unity.
• The Texas Railroad Commission regulates oil and gas, yet French’s campaign focused heavily on immigration and culture war issues.

Background

This incident follows a series of controversies involving French, including previous calls for mass deportation and polls questioning the threat posed by religious groups. The current backlash occurs amid broader Republican concerns about losing support among Hispanic and Asian American voters in Texas, a state the party has dominated for decades. Earlier archive coverage noted that French had previously faced scrutiny for bigoted remarks and that Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick had previously called for his resignation from a county role before endorsing him after he won the primary runoff.

How outlets are covering it

The Washington Post and The Texas Tribune emphasized the unprecedented nature of Karl Rove’s decision to vote for a Democrat, highlighting his 30-year history of supporting only Republicans. The Guardian focused on the broader national trend of extremist views entering mainstream Republican politics, noting similar controversies with other candidates in New York and Florida. Politico highlighted the strategic anxiety among GOP operatives, who fear French’s rhetoric will undermine the party’s recent gains with voters of color in a tough election year. While all sources agreed on the content of French’s post, they differed in emphasis: The Post and Tribune focused on the specific political fallout and Rove’s endorsement, while The Guardian contextualized the event within a wider pattern of Republican extremism, and Politico focused on the electoral implications for other high-profile races like the Senate and Governor's office.

Why it matters

The incident signals a potential fracture within the Texas Republican Party as establishment figures distance themselves from a nominee whose rhetoric may alienate key voter demographics. Rove’s decision to break a long-standing voting pattern underscores the severity of the backlash and the party's fear of losing ground with voters of color in a competitive election cycle.

What to watch

French’s campaign has not responded to requests for comment, and it remains unclear if he will withdraw or continue his fundraising efforts. The election for Texas Railroad Commissioner is scheduled for November, and the impact of this controversy on other statewide races, including the Senate and Governor's office, will be closely monitored by party strategists.