<\/p>\n
Jim Wright, the chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission, faces Bo French in the Republican runoff as Wright seeks his second term on the agency that oversees the state\u2019s oil and gas industry.<\/p>\n
Provided by Campaigns for Bo French and Jim Wright<\/p>\n
AUSTIN \u2013 Early voting ends Friday in one of Texas Republicans\u2019 most contentious statewide runoffs, a battle that has become about far more than oil and gas regulation.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Incumbent Railroad Commissioner Jim Wright and former\u00a0Tarrant County GOP Chairman Bo French are fighting for the GOP nomination ahead of Tuesday\u2019s runoff. The winner advances to face Democratic nominee Jon Rosenthal in November.<\/p>\n
Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n
The race has turned into a high-profile fight inside the state party, pitting top state leaders <\/a>and establishment donors behind Wright against French\u2019s hard-line conservative allies.<\/p>\n Abbott makes late push for Wright<\/p>\n Gov. Greg Abbott has jumped into the race\u2019<\/a>s final days with campaign appearances for Wright in San Antonio and Houston, sharpening the contrast between the two Republicans.<\/p>\n Abbott praised Wright\u2019s experience overseeing the state agency that regulates Texas\u2019 oil and gas industry and argued he is best positioned to protect the state\u2019s energy dominance.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Make Dallas News a preferred source so your search results prioritize writing by actual people, not AI.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Add Preferred Source<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWith Jim Wright\u2019s leadership, Texas will remain number one in oil and gas production,\u201d Abbott said during a campaign stop this week.<\/p>\n The governor\u2019s involvement adds to an already formidable lineup behind Wright.\u00a0Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows have also endorsed him, along with fellow Railroad Commissioners Christi Craddick and Wayne Christian.<\/p>\n French has dismissed those endorsements as establishment politics, arguing Republican voters want a more confrontational conservative voice focused on cutting regulations and fighting\u00a0DEI initiatives.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Money race intensifies<\/p>\n The runoff has also become a high-dollar battle fueled by major Republican donors and outside political groups.<\/p>\n