Railroad Commissioner of Texas · November 3, 2026
Who should I vote for in the Texas railroad commissioner race?
Jon Rosenthal has the strongest record in the Texas railroad commissioner race. Jon Rosenthal scores 67 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Bo French at 53, as of October 5, 2026. Jon Rosenthal's highest marks are relevant experience and accountability. Bo French's highest marks are communication and roots in the constituency. Arthur DiBianca (5 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Libertarian
Arthur DiBianca
On the ballot as ARTHUR DIBIANCA
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 5 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Republican
Bo French
On the ballot as BO FRENCH
53 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 42
- Qualifications
- 60
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Strongest record
Jon Rosenthal
On the ballot as JON ROSENTHAL
67 / 100
Public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 56
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 67
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Arthur DiBianca
- On the record2026
Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Source: Ballotpedia, Arthur DiBianca
- On the record2014 to 2022
Ran as a Libertarian for Texas House District 51 in 2014, the 21st Congressional District in 2020 and Texas Senate District 21 in 2022.
Bo French
- Mark against2026-09
On Sept. 13, 2026 he posted a photo of UT Austin students saying it showed Americans displaced by foreigners, without information on their status, and stood by it after Sen. John Cornyn condemned it.
Sources: Texas Tribune, Sept. 13, 2026, KUT / Houston Public Media, Sept. 15, 2026
- Mark against2024-10
In Oct. 2024, as Tarrant County GOP chair, he repeatedly called political opponents slurs for gay people and people with disabilities on X, drawing condemnation from several Republican officials.
Sources: Texas Tribune, Oct. 31, 2024, Fort Worth Report, Jan. 19, 2025
- On the record2026-07
A July 2026 French fundraising email showed an AI-generated image of Rosenthal, who is Jewish, in the room where the Romanov family was executed; Rosenthal called it antisemitic.
Source: The Forward, Aug. 19, 2026
- On the record2026-04
In April 2026 he said he was not invited to a Midland County Republican Women candidate forum; the club's program officer told the Texas Tribune she invited him by email, calls and texts.
Source: Texas Tribune, April 9, 2026
- On the record2025-06
On June 25, 2025 he posted an X poll asking whether Jews or Muslims were a bigger threat to America; Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called for his resignation, and French apologized but stayed on.
Sources: Fort Worth Report, June 27, 2025, Fort Worth Report (KERA), Nov. 12, 2025
- On the record2025-08
In Aug. 2025 he called on federal officials to denaturalize and deport state Rep. Salman Bhojani and alleged the lawmaker lied about a Pakistan trip; Bhojani showed passport stamps matching his account.
- On the record2025-10
In an Oct. 10, 2025 X post he called for adding Native Americans pictured at Mount Rushmore to those to be deported; Snopes rated True the claim that he called for deporting Native Americans.
Sources: Snopes, Feb. 2026, KUT, June 4, 2026
- On the record2025-02
CNN's KFile reported that in Feb. 2025 he posted on X that he wanted public executions of officials identified by DOGE; the post was later deleted.
- On the record2024-09
As party chair in Sept. 2024 he called the denial of college campus early voting sites a win for Republicans and criticized a Republican commissioner who voted to keep them.
Sources: Texas Tribune, Sept. 18, 2024, Fort Worth Report, Sept. 17, 2024
- On the record2024-10
On Oct. 21, 2024 he relayed reports of ballots flipping from Trump to Harris in Tarrant County, then posted on Oct. 23 that rumors of widespread irregularities were not true.
Source: Snopes, Oct. 25, 2024
Jon Rosenthal
- On the record2025
Served in the 89th Legislature on the House Energy Resources Committee and as vice chair of the House Redistricting Committee and the Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting.
Source: Texas Legislature Online, member page, 89th Legislature
- On the record2021-07 to 2025-08
Joined the House Democratic quorum breaks of summer 2021 and Aug. 2025; the House issued civil arrest warrants for absent members both times, and he returned in Aug. 2025.
Sources: Texas Tribune, Aug. 11, 2021, Texas Tribune, Aug. 18, 2025, Texas Tribune, Aug. 6, 2025
- On the record2021-01
PolitiFact has checked one Rosenthal claim, a Jan. 2021 tweet on vaccination and herd immunity, and rated it Mostly True.
Source: PolitiFact, Jon Rosenthal
- Credit2026-09
Republican strategist Karl Rove wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that he would vote for Rosenthal over French and repeated it at the Texas Tribune Festival in Sept. 2026.
Sources: San Antonio Report, Sept. 22, 2026, Texas Tribune, Sept. 26, 2026
- Credit2023 to 2025
Primary author of HB 1457 (2023), military informed care training for veterans mental health grantees, and HB 367 (2025), excused absences for seriously ill students, both enacted.
Sources: Texas Legislature Online, HB 1457 (88R) history, Texas Legislature Online, HB 367 (89R) history
- Credit2021
Primary author of HB 626 and HB 699, both enacted in 2021: veterans job training grants through the ACE program, and school attendance rules for students with severe illnesses.
Sources: Texas Legislature Online, HB 626 (87R) history, Texas Legislature Online, HB 699 (87R) history
- Credit2021 to 2025
Three of his enacted bills carried Republican coauthors: Rep. Tony Tinderholt on HB 626, Rep. Terry Wilson on HB 1457 and Rep. Tom Oliverson on HB 367.
Sources: Texas Legislature Online, HB 367 (89R) history, Ballotpedia, Tony Tinderholt, Ballotpedia, Terry Wilson (Texas)
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Arthur DiBianca. No Texas Ethics Commission sworn complaint order names him. His campaign reported $694 raised from Jan. 1 to June 30, 2026, an in-kind donation from the Libertarian Booster PAC.
Sources: Texas Ethics Commission, sworn complaint orders listed by date issued (updated Sept. 28, 2026), Texas Tribune voter guide, Sept. 15, 2026
Bo French. No Texas Ethics Commission sworn complaint order names him in the commission's list of orders issued since 1992, updated Sept. 28, 2026. His campaign reported raising $333,603 from Jan. 1 to June 30, 2026.
Sources: Texas Ethics Commission, sworn complaint orders listed by date issued (updated Sept. 28, 2026), Texas Tribune voter guide, Sept. 15, 2026
Jon Rosenthal. No Texas Ethics Commission sworn complaint order names him in the list of orders issued since 1992, updated Sept. 28, 2026. His campaign reported raising $64,511 from Jan. 1 to June 30, 2026. PolitiFact's one check of him is rated Mostly True.
Sources: Texas Ethics Commission, sworn complaint orders listed by date issued (updated Sept. 28, 2026), Texas Tribune voter guide, Sept. 15, 2026, PolitiFact, Jon Rosenthal
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Arthur DiBianca. No public record found.
Bo French. No public record found.
Jon Rosenthal. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Arthur DiBianca. No public record found.
Bo French. Spoke on a CPAC panel in Grapevine in March 2026 and on The Mark Davis Show in Sept. 2026. Rosenthal announced an Oct. 22 debate that French had not publicly confirmed as of Sept. 25, 2026.
Sources: Texas Tribune, March 27, 2026, KUT / Houston Public Media, Sept. 15, 2026, Texas Tribune, Sept. 25, 2026
Jon Rosenthal. Held an open town hall in Laredo on Aug. 22, 2026, taking questions on the commission, and announced an Oct. 22, 2026 debate with French in Dallas, saying he was ready any time and any place.
Sources: Texas Tribune, Aug. 22, 2026, Texas Tribune, Sept. 25, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Arthur DiBianca. No public record found.
Bo French. Established conduct record as party chair and candidate: repeated slurs at political opponents in Oct. 2024, a June 2025 poll asking whether Jews or Muslims were a bigger threat, for which he apologized, and Sept. 2026 posts on UT students condemned by Sen. John Cornyn. No formal censure.
Sources: Texas Tribune, Oct. 31, 2024, Fort Worth Report, June 27, 2025, KUT / Houston Public Media, Sept. 15, 2026
Jon Rosenthal. Texas House member since Jan. 2019 after a career as an oil field mechanical engineer. No censure, reprimand or formal conduct finding found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Jon Rosenthal, Texas Tribune, Sept. 29, 2025
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Arthur DiBianca. No public record found.
Bo French. No public record found.
Jon Rosenthal. Sworn House member since 2019 with no misuse-of-office finding and no recorded action to reject certified results. Took part in the 2021 and 2025 Democratic quorum breaks, during which the House issued civil arrest warrants for absent members.
Sources: Texas Tribune, Aug. 11, 2021, Texas Tribune, Aug. 18, 2025, Texas Tribune, Aug. 6, 2025
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Arthur DiBianca. Programmer, described as retired in state candidate filings, and a Libertarian activist for more than 20 years with several prior legislative candidacies. No documented organizational leadership role or public office.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Arthur DiBianca, Texas Tribune voter guide, Sept. 15, 2026
Bo French. Private equity and energy investor from a Midland oil family; chaired the Tarrant County Republican Party from 2023 until resigning in Nov. 2025. No government office.
Sources: San Antonio Report, Sept. 22, 2026, Texas Tribune voter guide, Sept. 15, 2026, Fort Worth Report (KERA), Nov. 22, 2025
Jon Rosenthal. Four terms in the Texas House, District 135, from 2019 to the present, after more than 25 years as an engineer in and around the oil and gas industry.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Jon Rosenthal, Texas Tribune voter guide, Sept. 15, 2026
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Arthur DiBianca. Publishes positions in general terms: free market energy policy, property owner restitution, well plugging accountability and simplified commission rules.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Arthur DiBianca, 2026 Candidate Connection survey, Campaign site
Bo French. Publishes positions including digitizing permit applications, returning authority to regional offices and ending DEI contracting. The Texas Tribune reports the commissioner has limited say over the social issues central to his campaign.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Bo French, 2026 Candidate Connection survey, Texas Tribune, June 16, 2026
Jon Rosenthal. Served on the House Energy Resources Committee in 2019 to 2020 and in 2025. Publishes specific plans within the commission's powers, including a 24/7 complaint hotline, gas capture requirements and public well-plugging dashboards.
Sources: Texas Legislature Online, member page, 89th Legislature, Ballotpedia, Jon Rosenthal, committee assignments, Texas Tribune voter guide, Sept. 15, 2026
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Arthur DiBianca. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey and publishes an issue page on his campaign site.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Arthur DiBianca, Campaign site
Bo French. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey, publishes issue pages on his campaign site, and speaks on public panels and talk radio.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Bo French, KUT / Houston Public Media, Sept. 15, 2026
Jon Rosenthal. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey, publishes House newsletters, held a public town hall in Laredo and published detailed issue positions.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Jon Rosenthal, Texas House of Representatives, member page, Texas Tribune, Aug. 22, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Arthur DiBianca. Has lived in Texas since 1991 and lives in Austin.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Arthur DiBianca, 2026 Candidate Connection survey, San Antonio Report, Sept. 22, 2026
Bo French. Born in Fort Worth, grew up in Midland and lives in Fort Worth. In-state share of contributions not reported; the Texas Ethics Commission report search could not be read.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Bo French, San Antonio Report, Sept. 22, 2026
Jon Rosenthal. Has lived in Texas since 1979 and in Northwest Houston since 2007, and represents House District 135 there. In-state share of contributions not reported; the commission's report search could not be read.
Source: Ballotpedia, Jon Rosenthal, 2026 Candidate Connection survey
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Arthur DiBianca. No public record found.
Bo French. Led the Tarrant County Republican Party from 2023 until resigning in Nov. 2025. No Texas Ethics Commission sworn complaint order names him.
Sources: Fort Worth Report (KERA), Nov. 22, 2025, Texas Ethics Commission, sworn complaint orders listed by date issued (updated Sept. 28, 2026)
Jon Rosenthal. Runs a House office with a district office in Cypress. No Texas Ethics Commission sworn complaint order names him.
Sources: Texas House of Representatives, member page, Texas Ethics Commission, sworn complaint orders listed by date issued (updated Sept. 28, 2026)
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Arthur DiBianca. No public record found.
Bo French. No public record found.
Jon Rosenthal. Primary author of four bills enacted into law: HB 626 and HB 699 (2021), HB 1457 (2023) and HB 367 (2025), on veterans job training grants, veterans mental health training, and school absences for seriously ill students.
Sources: Texas Legislature Online, HB 626 (87R) history, Texas Legislature Online, HB 699 (87R) history, Texas Legislature Online, HB 1457 (88R) history, Texas Legislature Online, HB 367 (89R) history
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Arthur DiBianca. No public record found.
Bo French. No public record found.
Jon Rosenthal. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Arthur DiBianca. No public record found.
Bo French. No public record found.
Jon Rosenthal. Maintains a district office in Cypress and publishes constituent newsletters through the House website.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Arthur DiBianca. No public record found.
Bo French. No public record found.
Jon Rosenthal. Three of his enacted bills had Republican coauthors: Tinderholt (HB 626), Wilson (HB 1457) and Oliverson (HB 367). Republican strategist Karl Rove said he would vote for Rosenthal over French.
Sources: Texas Legislature Online, HB 626 (87R) history, Texas Legislature Online, HB 367 (89R) history, Ballotpedia, Tom Oliverson, San Antonio Report, Sept. 22, 2026
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Arthur DiBianca. No public record found.
Bo French. No public record found.
Jon Rosenthal. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 5, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Texas railroad commissioner race?
Jon Rosenthal has the strongest record in the Texas railroad commissioner race. Jon Rosenthal scores 67 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Bo French at 53, as of October 5, 2026. Jon Rosenthal's highest marks are relevant experience and accountability. Bo French's highest marks are communication and roots in the constituency. Arthur DiBianca (5 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Texas railroad commissioner race in 2026?
ARTHUR DIBIANCA (Libertarian), BO FRENCH (Republican), JON ROSENTHAL (Democratic). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Arthur DiBianca a good candidate for Railroad Commissioner?
Arthur DiBianca has public evidence on 5 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Bo French a good candidate for Railroad Commissioner?
Bo French scores 53 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 42 of 100, qualifications 60 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Jon Rosenthal a good candidate for Railroad Commissioner?
Jon Rosenthal scores 67 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria: character 56 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 67 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Texas race scored, and the Texas 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.