A Texas Republican's social media post about the racial composition of University of Texas students has ignited a firestorm within conservative circles, drawing sharp rebukes from prominent right-wing figures and exposing deep ideological divisions over race and higher education.
Bo French, a candidate for the Texas Railroad Commission, posted a photo of Longhorn fans celebrating their football victory over Ohio State, captioned: "I heard UT graduation this year looked like this. I didn't believe it. The problem is now obviously far worse than anyone imagined." He later clarified, "I cheered the win for the team. It was a great game. But I weep for the families in Texas who can't get into UT because they prioritize foreigners over Texans. Shame on you for ignoring that fact."
The comments immediately drew condemnation from across the political spectrum. Radio host Erick Erickson cited the incident as evidence of white nationalist infiltration in the GOP. Karl Rove, a longtime Republican strategist, said he would vote for French's Democratic opponent, marking only the second time in his life he'd back a Democrat. Ben Shapiro, a conservative commentator, pointed out the irony: Vice President JD Vance, the presumed Republican standard-bearer, has an Indian wife and half-Indian children.
French's remarks also clash with the conservative legal movement's recent victories in banning race-based admissions. In 2023, the Supreme Court's decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard effectively ended affirmative action, a cause championed by many Republicans and libertarians. Texas Republicans, including Sen. Ted Cruz, outgoing Sen. John Cornyn, and gubernatorial candidate Ken Paxton, had urged the Court to strike down race-conscious admissions. Gov. Greg Abbott also signed a ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in public universities.
The irony is not lost on observers: French and his allies now lament that universities cannot favor white applicants, which mirrors the progressive race-based sorting they once opposed. As Robby Soave, a senior editor at Reason, noted in his original column, "The right won the war over affirmative action, and now these people are mad about what that means."
Under race-blind admissions, high-achieving Asian and Indian students are gaining admission based on merit, not race. French's objections, Soave argued, amount to a demand for racial preferences for whites—a position that contradicts the conservative principle of individual merit.
The controversy highlights a growing rift within the GOP between traditional conservatives who champion colorblind policies and a more nationalist wing that prioritizes demographic outcomes. As Vance campaigns in Iowa, the party's internal tensions over race and immigration remain unresolved.
French's remarks also come amid broader debates over immigration and national identity, with some Republicans pushing for stricter limits on foreign students. However, as a new Texas GOP ad highlights ICE releases, the party's stance on immigration remains a flashpoint.
Ultimately, the backlash against French underscores a fundamental question: Can the GOP reconcile its commitment to merit-based admissions with the demographic anxieties of some of its base? For now, the party appears divided, with leaders like Shapiro and Rove distancing themselves from French's rhetoric.
