Cornyn Refuses to Back Bo French for Texas Rail Post Over UT Austin Comments, May Leave Ballot Blank
Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · Sep 17
Cornyn Refuses to Back Bo French for Texas Rail Post Over UT Austin Comments, May Leave Ballot Blank
3 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · Sep 17
Summary
John Cornyn said he will not vote for Republican railroad commissioner nominee Bo French, calling him "an embarrassment" whose remarks could drag down the Texas GOP ticket.
French triggered the backlash with a post about a photo of UT Austin students celebrating a football win, suggesting the university prioritizes "foreigners over Texans" despite no clear evidence the students pictured were international.
UT Austin reserves 90% of undergraduate seats for Texas residents, while international students account for fewer than 2,000 students, or 4.3% of more than 44,000 enrolled.
Karl Rove said in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that he would vote for Democrat Jon Rosenthal, while Cornyn said he may leave that race blank rather than support either candidate.
The dispute has widened pressure on Texas Republicans after Cornyn, House Speaker Dustin Burrows and Democrats condemned French, while the state GOP and Gov. Greg Abbott have largely stayed silent.