A Texas Republican candidate for the Railroad Commission, Bo French, is facing intense scrutiny after a CNN KFile investigation unearthed years of social media posts in which he called for the public execution of political opponents, including former President Barack Obama. The posts, some deleted by French and others removed by X for violating its rules, include one from last year in which he wrote, “I want more than perp walks. I want public executions.” Other posts invoked hanging and gallows.
For a candidate seeking elected office in Texas—a state with a deeply troubling history of lynching—such rhetoric is especially alarming. The last recorded mob lynching in Texas was that of William Vinson in July 1942, and the state has seen more recent racially motivated hate crimes, such as the 1998 murder of James Byrd Jr. in Jasper, widely recognized as a modern-day lynching. The use of this language should disqualify anyone from public office.
But French's record extends beyond these violent posts. He has attacked Islam, asked followers whether Jews or Muslims pose a greater threat to America, labeled childless women as selfish, and made a racist post about the diverse student section at a University of Texas football game, calling it a “problem.” Senator John Cornyn has called French “an embarrassment to the Republican Party,” and Republican strategist Karl Rove has said he would vote for French's Democratic opponent.
When a candidate for public power repeatedly uses the language of racism, gallows, and hanging, voters—especially Black Texans who understand the painful history of such imagery—deserve to know what that rhetoric signals. Yet despite condemnations from some Republicans, the most influential voices that endorsed French, including Governor Greg Abbott, Attorney General Ken Paxton, and the state Republican Party, have not publicly rescinded their support.
Why the hesitation? Democrats confronted a similar situation this summer with Graham Platner. After serious sexual-assault allegations emerged, prominent Democrats withdrew their endorsements and urged him to exit the race; Platner eventually did. Right is right, and wrong is wrong.
Political parties are not passive observers. Endorsements are deliberate choices—they signal who a party is willing to stand with. If Republican leaders truly believe French's rhetoric is racist and unacceptable, they must do more than issue a press release or a carefully worded social media statement. They should pressure him to drop out and rescind their endorsements.
Lindsey Granger is a NewsNation contributor and co-host of The Hill's commentary show “Rising.” This column is an edited transcription of her on-air commentary.
