Jon Rosenthal, a Democrat and former state lawmaker, is running for the Texas Railroad Commission, the three-member body that regulates the state's oil and gas industry, against Republican Bo French. The race drew national attention after French faced criticism for suggesting, without evidence, that South Asian students at the University of Texas-Austin had taken places from white students, along with other inflammatory remarks on immigration, LGBTQ+ issues and diversity. If Rosenthal wins the Nov. 3 election, he would be the first Democrat elected to the commission since the 1990s, but his campaign has struggled to raise money compared with previous Democratic candidates. French, who once led the Republican Party in Tarrant County, has continued to push for more oil production and deregulation despite criticism from party leaders, while Rosenthal has pledged to target chronic polluters.
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Original headline: Bo French , Jon Rosenthal clash over Railroad Commission
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