Overview
- Rove confirmed Wednesday in a Wall Street Journal op‑ed that he will vote for Democrat Jon Rosenthal in the Texas Railroad Commission race, marking only the second time he says he has voted for a Democrat since 1994.
- The move follows a viral X post by Republican nominee Bo French that mocked University of Texas students by race and drew bipartisan condemnation, including rebuke from Senator John Cornyn.
- In the op‑ed Rove cataloged earlier French comments — including a remark about deporting families together and a 2025 X poll pitting Jews against Muslims — and called for a cleanup of what he called an increasing number of bigoted figures in the party.
- President Trump responded by attacking Rove on Truth Social as a “stone cold loser,” highlighting a split between Trump‑aligned Republicans who defend or downplay French and establishment figures who say his remarks are disqualifying.
- The contest for the Railroad Commission, which regulates Texas oil and gas, has been nationalized by the episode and could influence party unity, donor choices, and targeted spending as Republicans head into the 2026 midterm cycle.