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The Texas Railroad Commission is a three-member statewide agency that regulates oil and natural gas, pipelines, natural gas utilities, LP-gas, and coal and uranium surface mining. It does not regulate railroads. Republican nominee Bo French says he would reduce regulation, change permitting and contracting practices, and pursue priorities involving DEI, foreign influence, and Islamist influence in Texas energy.
The Railroad Commission of Texas says it has primary regulatory jurisdiction over the oil and natural gas industry, pipeline transporters, natural gas and hazardous-liquid pipelines, natural gas utilities, the LP-gas industry, critical natural-gas infrastructure, and coal and uranium surface mining operations.
Its work includes permitting, inspection, enforcement, pipeline safety, well plugging, and other energy-related regulatory functions.
Despite its name, the Commission does not regulate railroads. The agency says its final railroad functions were transferred to the Texas Department of Transportation in 2005.
The agency has also taken on newer energy responsibilities. The Railroad Commission says Texas law clarified its regulatory jurisdiction over hydrogen pipelines and underground hydrogen storage, and the Commission now has primary enforcement authority for Class VI wells used to inject carbon dioxide into deep rock formations for permanent storage.
Texas has three railroad commissioners. They are elected statewide to six-year, staggered terms.
One commissioner position is on the ballot every two years, and the commissioners choose the chair from among themselves.
The 2026 general election includes one Railroad Commission seat. The Texas Secretary of State certified Republican Bo French, Democrat Jon Rosenthal, and Libertarian Arthur DiBianca for the November 3 ballot.
The office governs an agency whose decisions affect oil and gas production, pipelines, utilities, underground storage, and other energy infrastructure across Texas. The Houston Chronicle reported on September 23, 2026 that the agency has more than 1,000 employees.
French has made lighter regulation and faster permitting part of his campaign.
In a candidate questionnaire, he called for a “modern, streamlined permitting process” and said he would reduce government waste by ending DEI-based spending and making more Railroad Commission contracts competitively bid. His campaign website also says the Commission should cut regulations on oil and gas operators rather than centralize more power in Austin.
On DEI, the candidate questionnaire lists one of French's priorities as “End DEI-based spending at the Railroad Commission.” His campaign website says he would return Railroad Commission contracting to what it describes as merit-based decision-making.
French has also connected the office to religious and foreign-influence issues. The Houston Chronicle reported on September 23 that French said he wanted “to kick radical Islam out of Texas Energy.” His campaign website says he would use the Commission to oppose what it calls militant Islamist influence and to add screening to operator paperwork for organizations prohibited under Texas restrictions on hostile foreign ownership.
During the Republican primary, incumbent Commissioner Jim Wright disputed French's framing.
The Texas Tribune reported on February 12, 2026 that Wright said the Commission “has nothing to do” with Islam or the Chinese Communist Party, and said the agency follows requirements imposed by the Texas Legislature concerning diversity programs.
The Texas Tribune reported on June 16, 2026 that French was keeping Islam, immigration, and LGBTQ+ issues at the forefront of his campaign for an oil regulatory office. The same report said French had explained in conservative-media interviews that he campaigned on social issues because they resonated with his supporters. The Tribune described the general-election campaign as involving substantial discussion of issues outside the Commission's core functions.
More recent reporting has examined how far a commissioner could use oil-and-gas permitting powers to pursue those goals. The Houston Chronicle reported on September 23 that energy lawyers and industry experts viewed the Commission's direct authority as concentrated on permits, wells, pipelines, waste, and related regulatory matters, with broader political actions still subject to state law, federal law, and the agency's jurisdiction.
The November 3, 2026 ballot is a three-way race: Bo French is the Republican nominee, state Rep. Jon Rosenthal is the Democratic nominee, and Arthur DiBianca is the Libertarian nominee.
A Texas Southern University Barbara Jordan Public Policy Research and Survey Center poll published September 22 surveyed 1,800 likely Texas voters between September 15 and 19, 2026.
The margin of error was +/- 2.31 percentage points. In that survey, French received 44%, Rosenthal 42%, DiBianca 3%, and 11% were undecided. The two-point gap was within the poll's stated margin of error. These figures are a dated polling snapshot, not an election result or prediction.
| Candidate / response | September 2026 poll |
|---|---|
| Bo French (Republican) | 44% |
| Jon Rosenthal (Democrat) | 42% |
| Arthur DiBianca (Libertarian) | 3% |
| Undecided | 11% |
French defeated incumbent Jim Wright in the May 26 Republican runoff. Official Texas Secretary of State results show French won 663,679 votes to Wright's 648,978, about 50.6% to 49.4%.
On the Mark Davis Show on September 14, French said, “The establishment raised and spent $7 million against me in the primary.” The Texas Tribune reported that statement as French's claim. The $7 million figure is not presented here as an independently verified spending total.
The Texas Tribune's September 15 candidate guide reported that French had $223,192 cash on hand as of June 30, 2026 and raised $333,603 between January 1 and June 30.
The same guide listed Marcia Fuller French, a former Texas Christian University trustee, at $100,000 under major donors for the year.
No. The agency says it has no jurisdiction over railroads. Its last railroad functions were transferred to the Texas Department of Transportation in 2005.
It regulates major parts of Texas energy and natural-resource activity, including oil and natural gas production, pipelines, natural gas utilities, LP-gas, critical natural-gas infrastructure, and coal and uranium surface mining. It also has newer responsibilities involving hydrogen infrastructure and Class VI carbon-dioxide injection wells.
French says he would reduce regulation, modernize permitting, end DEI-based spending at the Commission, change contracting practices, screen for prohibited foreign ownership, and use the office to oppose what he describes as radical Islamist influence in Texas energy.
He is the Republican nominee for one of the three statewide Railroad Commission seats. The November ballot also includes Democrat Jon Rosenthal and Libertarian Arthur DiBianca.
Texas elects three commissioners statewide to six-year, staggered terms. One commissioner position is normally on the ballot every two years.
Election Day is November 3, 2026.
Core jurisdiction, no railroad authority, last rail duties transferred in 2005.
Jurisdiction and exclusions.
Three commissioners, statewide election, six-year staggered terms, one seat every two years.
Hydrogen pipeline and underground storage jurisdiction.
Class VI CO2 injection and storage authority; primacy effective December 15, 2025.
French, Rosenthal, and DiBianca certified for Railroad Commissioner.
Official runoff vote totals: French 663,679; Wright 648,978.
Election Day, November 3, 2026.
Current campaign positions on regulation, oil and gas, DEI, foreign ownership, and Islamist influence.
Candidate questionnaire language on permitting, DEI spending, competitive bidding, and related priorities.
Jim Wright response and campaign debate over DEI, China, and Islam.
Reporting on French emphasizing Islam, immigration, LGBTQ+ issues, and the office's core functions.
French's own $7 million claim, reported as his statement.
Campaign finance snapshot and candidate information.
French's energy/Islam statement and reporting on the scope and legal limits of Commission authority.
September poll: 1,800 likely voters, +/-2.31% margin of error, French 44%, Rosenthal 42%, DiBianca 3%, undecided 11%.