Texas GOP Divided Over Candidate's Controversial Remarks on Asian American Students

In an escalating political storm, prominent Texas Republicans are voicing strong disapproval of Bo French, a nominee for the state's railroad commission, following his controversial remarks regarding Asian American students. French’s xenophobic post, which he shared on X, has ignited fierce backlash from within his party.

Condemnation from Party Leaders

Senator John Cornyn was quick to take to social media to denounce French's remarks, calling them racist and urging other Republican leaders to join him in condemning such intolerance. "This is the Republican nominee for statewide office," Cornyn posted. "Are other Republican elected officials going to condemn the intolerance and racism, or look the other way while it becomes normalized?"

Support for Unity and Diversity

Texas Governor Greg Abbott also issued a firm rebuke of French's comments, emphasizing that the image shared by French depicted a celebration of unity among Texans after a significant football victory. Abbott stated, "That is not my message. A selective picture of Longhorn fans… actually shows a way that Texans unite." He reiterated the importance of unity while also defending Texas's strict immigration policies.

Mixed Reactions from Republican Colleagues

Several state representatives echoed the call for accountability, with State Rep. Lacey Hull expressing heartbreak over the post and urging French to retract it. Others, like State Rep. Jared Patterson, labeled it as demeaning and expressed that young Texans should not be objectified as political targets. However, not all Republicans are in agreement, with some defending French and criticizing Cornyn's response.

Source: www.politico.com