Who is running for Texas Railroad Commissioner in 2026?

Former chair, Tarrant County Republican Party

Bo French is an investor who grew up in Midland in a family oil business and spent about a decade as an energy trader²³. He is a former chair of the Tarrant County Republican Party³⁴. He defeated incumbent Commissioner Jim Wright in the May 2026 Republican primary runoff with 50.6 percent¹.

Where they stand

• Business regulation: Cut regulations broadly and let the market sort it out Said · medium confidence
  • French's campaign website says the Railroad Commission should cut regulations and end what it calls a regulatory stranglehold on oil and gas operators. (2026-05-20) source
  • In a Ballotpedia survey he said he would modernize and speed up permitting and return power to regional offices. (2026) source
  • His campaign biography also says he supports fair, common-sense regulations that protect landowners. (2026) source
• Energy and climate: Maximize oil and gas; climate rules hurt the economy Said · medium confidence
  • His campaign website says he will put the Texas oil and gas industry first by prioritizing the operators who keep the Texas economy running. (2026-05-20) source
  • He says faster permitting will increase industry activity and tax revenue. (2026) source

No public position found on: Texas power grid, AI data centers.

Texas State Representative, District 135

Jon Rosenthal is a mechanical engineer who worked more than 25 years in and around the oil and gas industry, including as a subsea systems engineer¹. He has represented Texas House District 135 in northwest Houston since January 2019 and is not seeking reelection to the House¹. He was unopposed in the March 2026 Democratic primary for railroad commissioner¹².

Where they stand

• Energy and climate: All of the above: oil, gas, nuclear and renewables, and let markets pick Said · medium confidence
  • Rosenthal's campaign site calls for common-sense All of the Above energy strategies, including capturing gas instead of flaring it and encouraging geothermal. (2026) source
  • In a Ballotpedia survey he said he would promote an All of the Above approach and strike a sensible balance between environmental concerns and industry activity. (2026) source
  • The Texas Tribune reports he supports lower carbon emissions and said federal energy and infrastructure laws helped the country's energy needs. (2026-09-15) source
• Texas power grid: Require weatherization and bigger reserves, even if bills rise Questionnaire answer · medium confidence
  • In a Ballotpedia survey he said he would implement weatherization requirements for critical gas delivery systems with clear deadlines and audits and hold violators accountable. (2026) source
  • Voted yes on the conference report for SB 3, the 2021 law on preparing for weather emergencies and power outages after Winter Storm Uri; the House adopted it 142 to 0. (2021-05-30) source
• AI data centers: Allow them case by case, with strict local rules on siting, noise and water Said · high confidence
  • His campaign site says the state should require a water and power resource management plan before data center construction, bar construction next to residential areas, and let communities disallow construction. (2026) source
  • Voted yes on SB 6, the 2025 law requiring large electric loads such as data centers to share interconnection costs and allowing their curtailment in grid emergencies, which passed the House 103 to 25. (2025-05-27) source
• Business regulation: Stronger rules on big corporations, banks and tech companies Said · medium confidence
  • The Texas Tribune reports he would end routine gas flaring and venting, add modern leak detection requirements, and deny new permits to companies that violate rules. (2026-09-15) source
  • In a Ballotpedia survey he said the Railroad Commission has become a pay-to-play playground for oil and gas insiders and that he would restore accountability. (2026) source
  • The Texas Tribune reports he said the commission has not sufficiently enforced its regulations. (2026-09-15) source

Private citizen

Arthur DiBianca is a retired programmer and longtime Libertarian activist from Austin¹². He has run as a Libertarian for the Texas House in 2012 and 2014, Congress in 2020 and the Texas Senate in 2022¹². He was nominated for railroad commissioner at the Libertarian convention in April 2026¹.

Where they stand

• Energy and climate: All of the above: oil, gas, nuclear and renewables, and let markets pick Said · high confidence
  • DiBianca's campaign site says the market, not the government, should decide the energy mix and supports all of the above development without subsidies or mandates for any source. (2026) source
  • The site says he opposes government picking winners and losers between oil, gas, wind, solar or nuclear. (2026) source
• Business regulation: Cut red tape, but keep core safety and environmental rules Said · medium confidence
  • His campaign site says operators should be held accountable for well plugging and cleanup, with predictable and transparent compliance. (2026) source
  • The site says bonding and insurance markets should handle environmental risks instead of taxpayer bailouts, and that landowner disputes should be settled through voluntary, market-based solutions rather than one-size-fits-all mandates. (2026) source

No public position found on: Texas power grid, AI data centers.