Democrat Jon Rosenthal has won the race for Texas Railroad Commissioner, defeating Republican Bo French and Libertarian Arthur DiBianca in Tuesday’s general election.
The Associated Press called the race early Wednesday morning after French conceded Tuesday night. Libertarian Arthur DiBianca also appeared on the ballot.
Rosenthal, a state representative from the Houston area and former oil and gas engineer, will become the first Democrat to serve on the three-member Railroad Commission since the 1990s.
In remarks to supporters Tuesday night, Rosenthal thanked voters and discussed the outcome of the election, describing it as a rejection of divisive political rhetoric.
“The people of Texas are sending a message: The politics of hate no longer work,” Rosenthal said, according to The Texas Tribune.
The race attracted increased attention in the weeks leading up to Election Day following controversy surrounding statements made by French, a former Tarrant County Republican Party chairman.
French faced criticism from Democrats and some Republicans over social media posts concerning South Asian students at the University of Texas at Austin, along with other remarks about race, religion and immigration.
Rosenthal campaigned on his experience in the oil and gas industry and called for changes to how the Railroad Commission oversees energy operations.
French conceded the race Tuesday night.
Rosenthal has represented Texas House District 135 in northwest Harris County since 2019.
Before entering public office, he worked for more than 25 years as an engineer and project manager in the oil and gas industry.
During his campaign, Rosenthal emphasized his professional background and proposed changes to the commission’s oversight of drilling operations, environmental compliance and energy infrastructure.
He has also supported continued oil and gas production in Texas while advocating for additional regulatory oversight.
Despite the name, the Texas Railroad Commission does not regulate railroads.
The agency is responsible for overseeing oil and natural gas production, pipeline safety, natural gas utilities and certain environmental matters associated with energy development.
Its responsibilities also include overseeing efforts to plug abandoned oil and gas wells and regulating wastewater disposal associated with drilling operations.
The commission consists of three members elected statewide to staggered six-year terms.
Rosenthal will serve alongside two Republican commissioners, meaning Republicans will retain a majority on the agency.
During his campaign, Rosenthal outlined several priorities, including increased oversight of abandoned oil and gas wells, enforcement of natural gas infrastructure weatherization requirements and additional scrutiny of wastewater disposal operations.
He has also advocated for holding operators accountable for environmental violations and improving transparency within the commission.
Whether those proposals advance will depend in part on support from the commission’s other two members.
Rosenthal will succeed Republican Commissioner Jim Wright, who lost his reelection bid during the Republican primary runoff.
