The oil and gas industry PAC that endorsed Bo French days earlier condemns his post "unequivocally and without reservation"
Todd StaplesTreasurer of the Texas Oil and Gas Association Good Government Committee and president of the association, in a statement to The Texas Tribune
Todd Staples, treasurer of the Texas Oil and Gas Association's Good Government Committee, condemned Bo French's September 13 post about South Asian students at the University of Texas. The association's political action committee had endorsed French days before the post. The association is the trade body for the industry the Railroad Commission regulates, the office French is seeking.
“TXOGA PAC unequivocally and without reservation condemns the recent tweet posted September 13th on X by Bo French. Respect is a cornerstone of our industry's core values.”
Reporting
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Was Bo French’s UT Austin post racist?
After the University of Texas football team’s September 12, 2026 comeback win over Ohio State, Republican Railroad Commission nominee Bo French posted a still image of apparent South Asian fans and called what it showed a “problem.” He later said social media was exposing Americans being displaced by foreigners and accused UT of prioritizing foreigners over Texans. French and several supporters framed the posts as a legitimate criticism of immigration and admissions policy. Republican and Democratic officials, along with other commentators, condemned the use of the fans’ appearance as racist or xenophobic. Governor Greg Abbott rejected French’s interpretation of the image while reaffirming support for restrictive immigration policies.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
Reports that the industry French would regulate has largely stayed silent: ExxonMobil, Chevron and Occidental did not respond to the Tribune's questions. The exception is the Texas Oil and Gas Association's political action committee, which had endorsed French days before the post and then condemned it. The article notes TXOGA's initial preferred candidate was incumbent Jim Wright, whom it backed with about $100,000, and quotes political scientists on why major operators may not want public association with French given their Middle East operations and South Asian workforces.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Reporting
About this source
Follow-up reporting that quotes French’s radio defense and documents additional attributable reactions.
Before the quotation
TXOGA PAC endorsed French days before the post. The association's initial preferred candidate in the race had been incumbent Commissioner Jim Wright, whom it backed with about $100,000 before French won the primary. The Texas Tribune first reported the statement on September 14 as a statement from the PAC, and named Staples as its speaker on September 17.
After the quotation
ExxonMobil, Chevron and Occidental Petroleum did not respond to the Tribune's questions about the post. No Republican who endorsed French has rescinded that endorsement, though Senator John Cornyn and Karl Rove have each said they will not vote for him.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Staples condemns the post in unqualified terms on behalf of the industry's political committee and grounds the objection in the industry's values. The closest competing label is “Challenged the characterization”, because the statement condemns the tweet without using the word racist or characterising French himself. That loses because the condemnation is of the post itself and is expressly unreserved; declining to attach a label to the speaker does not soften a rejection of the conduct.
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Read the full caseRosenthal calls donations a rejection of French
“The people are rejecting this bold, racist campaign of his.”Read statement
Krishnamoorthi calls French’s UT fan post a xenophobic attack
“The Department of Education seems to be playing dog whistles to Bo French’s tune just days after his xenophobic attack on South Asian students for cheering for their own college football team. South Asian Americans are as American as anyone.”Read statement
French says his UT fan posts were about culture, not race
“It’s fair to say that Texas doesn’t look and feel like it did when I was a kid, and that’s not racist.”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "The oil and gas industry PAC that endorsed Bo French days earlier condemns his post "unequivocally and without reservation"". First published: 2026-09-18. Last updated: 2026-09-24. https://disputeindex.com/events/1067-todd-staples-treasurer-of-the-texas-oil-and