Prominent figures in the Texas Republican Party are publicly denouncing Bo French, a GOP candidate for the state's railroad commission, following his controversial post on X that targeted Asian American students. The post, which depicted University of Texas students celebrating a football victory, was criticized for its xenophobic tone.

French's post suggested that the presence of Asian American students at a UT football game was a "problem," escalating quickly into a major political controversy. “I heard UT graduation this year looked like this. I didn’t believe it. The problem is now obviously far worse than anyone imagined,” French wrote, accompanying his post with a photo of the students.

Immediate backlash followed from within his own party. Senator John Cornyn was quick to label the post as racist and urged fellow Republicans to take a stand. “This is how great political parties self-destruct. Sad,” Cornyn expressed on X, highlighting the potential damage to the party’s image.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott also spoke out, emphasizing unity and rejecting French's divisive message. He highlighted the celebratory nature of the photo, showing support for the UT football team after a significant win. “A selective picture of Longhorn fans celebrating our biggest home victory-ever-actually shows a way that Texans unite. We all support our college football teams,” Abbott stated.

The controversy has prompted responses from several other Republican officials. State Rep. Lacey Hull called on French to remove the post, expressing her disappointment and describing the image simply as “college kids cheering on their football team.” Similarly, State Rep. Jared Patterson criticized the post for targeting young Texans based on their race, emphasizing that such views were neither Christian nor conservative.

Despite the criticism, some party members defended French, attacking those who condemned him. Former Texas GOP Chair Matt Rinaldi criticized Cornyn’s stance, framing it as a betrayal of conservative values.

This incident comes after French previously sparked controversy with comments that were seen as Islamophobic earlier in the year. The ongoing reactions highlight a rift within the Texas Republican Party, as members grapple with issues of race, immigration, and the party’s future direction.

As the story develops, the party’s response to French’s comments may signal broader shifts in its approach to diversity and inclusivity, with potential implications for its alignment with the broader electorate.