Eric Columbus presses Texas Republicans who are not retiring to condemn French
Eric ColumbusSenior editor at Lawfare and former Justice Department and Homeland Security appointee, posting on his own Bluesky account
Eric Columbus, a Lawfare senior editor and former Justice Department and Homeland Security appointee, treated French's post as established racism and challenged Republican officeholders who are not leaving office to condemn it, noting that Cornyn had just lost his primary. In a follow-up an hour later he pointed to a Republican state representative seeking reelection who had condemned French and wrote "More please!"
“Will any GOP electeds who didn't just lose their primary speak up?”
Original post
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
Original post
About this source
The speaker's own post on Bluesky. His opening line paraphrases Cornyn in language Cornyn did not use: Cornyn's own post asked whether other Republicans would "condemn the intolerance and racism," and he did not use the phrase Columbus attributes to him. The colourful paraphrase is Columbus's characterisation, not a quotation of Cornyn.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Cornyn, who had lost his Senate primary to Ken Paxton, posted on September 13 asking whether other Republican elected officials would condemn the intolerance and racism or look the other way.
After the quotation
State Representatives Jared Patterson, Drew Darby and Jeff Leach condemned the post, and House Speaker Dustin Burrows called on French to delete it. No Republican who endorsed French has rescinded the endorsement.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Columbus treats that as settled and directs his argument at the political silence around it, pressing officeholders with something to lose to speak. The closest competing label is a finding that this is not a position event, because the post is framed as a question about others rather than a statement about French. That loses because the question only makes sense on the premise that the post warrants condemnation, and his follow-up endorsing a Republican who condemned it confirms that premise. Note that his opening line paraphrases Cornyn in language Cornyn did not use; the paraphrase is Columbus's own and is not evidence of what Cornyn said.
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- People and groups discussed
- Bo French
More from this case
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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- Eric Columbus presses Texas Republicans who are not retiring to condemn French
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The Dispute Index. "Eric Columbus presses Texas Republicans who are not retiring to condemn French". First published: 2026-09-19. Last updated: 2026-09-22. https://disputeindex.com/events/1100-eric-columbus-a-lawfare-senior-editor-and-former