Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, a Republican, has endorsed Democrat Jon Rosenthal in the race for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission, siding against the Republican nominee, former Tarrant County GOP chair Bo French.
"Jon Rosenthal is the right choice for Texas Railroad Commissioner," Parker said in a statement that Rosenthal shared on X, WFAA reported Sunday night. "The Texas Railroad Commission is not a place for culture wars and bigotry - it's the foundation of the Texas economy, and we cannot afford to hand it to the wrong leader."
Parker also pointed to Rosenthal's leadership, his experience and his focus on regulation and on working with industry leaders, according to WFAA.
The race
The commission regulates oil and gas production in Texas. Three candidates are on the Nov. 3 ballot: Rosenthal, a state representative from Houston; French; and Libertarian Arthur DiBianca. No incumbent is running, according to Ballotpedia. French unseated Commissioner Jim Wright in the May 26 Republican runoff, 50.5% to 49.5%, a margin of about 14,300 votes out of more than 1.3 million cast.
Rosenthal is a mechanical engineer who has worked in oil and gas for more than 25 years. In a June interview with WFAA, he answered critics who say a Democrat would hurt the industry by saying the work is "literally how I make my house payments."
The post that drew criticism
French came under fire in September after he posted a photo on X of fans, most of them South Asian, celebrating at the University of Texas' win over Ohio State. He called them "foreigners" and described their presence as a "problem," drawing criticism from Democrats and prominent Republicans.
