Bo French faces GOP backlash over remarks targeting South Asians

Bo French, the Republican nominee for the Texas Railroad Commission, is facing significant backlash following social media posts targeting individuals of South Asian descent. French shared a photograph of students at the University of Texas at Austin celebrating a football victory, using the image to claim that Americans are being “replaced by foreigners” and stating that the situation is “far worse than anyone imagined.”

The comments have triggered a divide within the Republican Party. Several prominent GOP figures, including U.S. Senator John Cornyn, state House Speaker Dustin Burrows, and former House Speaker Dade Phelan, have publicly condemned the remarks as racist or divisive. Cornyn warned that failing to condemn such intolerance could lead to the “self-destruction” of the political party.

While many Republican officials have distanced themselves from the rhetoric, the controversy has highlighted internal tensions regarding how the party addresses extremist views. Republican strategist Karl Rove has also criticized French, labeling him a “bigot,” while other party members have either defended him or remained silent on the matter.