To find a Texas Republican willing to step onto a debate stage this election cycle, you’ll have to go as far down the ballot as the railroad commissioner race.
But even that’s a maybe.
Bo French, the Republican candidate for the agency that regulates Texas’ oil and gas industry who was criticized by members of his party after putting a racist post on social media, is expected to participate in a debate against Democrat Jon Rosenthal on Oct. 22.
Rosenthal’s campaign and the vice president of the DFW Press & Media Club, which is hosting the event, told The Washington Sun the debate is on. But French’s campaign did not respond to multiple requests for comment. The press club has not received written confirmation of French’s participation, and French has not publicly stated the debate is taking place.
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Other Republicans higher up the ticket declined invitations to the debate stage, leaving some Democrats skeptical that the French-Rosenthal debate will happen at all. Kendall Scudder, chair of the Texas Democratic Party, told The Washington Sun he’d be “shocked” if French showed up to the debate.
He hopes it will happen, though.
“Anytime that Texans learn more about Bo French helps the Democratic Party,” Scudder said. “Texans aren’t stupid … they know a scoundrel when they see one.”
French was widely condemned last month over a social media post targeting South Asian students celebrating a comeback win at a University of Texas-Austin football game, saying the “problem is now obviously far worse than anyone imagined.”
His post prompted Republicans from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to Sen. John Cornyn to distance themselves. For Democrats, French’s rhetoric proved to be a boon. The weeks following his post represented a fundraising high for Rosenthal, who brought in $488,000 as of Oct. 6, according to The Texas Tribune.
So Democrats see the opportunity to get French on stage as potentially lucrative, particularly as national attention is drawn to the state’s Senate race, which could flip for Democrats for the first time in decades.
One person close to the Rosenthal campaign, who was granted anonymity to speak candidly, told The Sun that the Democrat has been going through debate preparation and that the campaign sees the opportunity to take the stage alongside French as a “win-win opportunity.” “If [French] doesn’t go, he’s going to look like a coward,” the person said. “If he goes, I think we’re going to come out looking pretty good.”
JoAnne Asenime, vice president of the DFW Press & Media Club, told The Sun that the organization planned to host several debates but struggled to get Republican buy-in.
“I don’t know if it’s due to scheduling or other reasons, but the Republican side of things has declined,” Asenime said.
Still, there have been some high-profile election events in Texas. On Wednesday, James Talarico, the Democrat running for Senate, participated in a town hall hosted by CNN and Jubilee Media. CNN anchor and moderator Erin Burnett opened the event by stating that Talarico’s Republican opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, had been offered the “opportunity to appear.”
“He has yet to respond, but that invitation still stands,” Burnett said.
Paxton has turned down multiple requests by Talarico to debate despite a campaign spokesperson saying earlier this year that “of course” the Republican would be open to such a forum.
During a recent stint in which Talarico was off the campaign trail, President Donald Trump jumped at the opportunity to point out the Democrat’s absence. On Truth Social, the president posted that Talarico should “immediately report to a Debate Stage against Ken Paxton, who is ready, willing, and able.”
Talarico seized the opportunity.
“Ball’s in your court, @KenPaxtonTX,” he said in a tweet.
Another key Paxton ally, Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas), joined in the calls for a debate on Thursday. “I certainly think it would be enlightening,” he said during an appearance on Fox News.
Paxton’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
Abbott, who has taken part in debates in his previous gubernatorial campaigns, declined debate invitations from Democratic challenger Gina Hinojosa. On Thursday, Hinojosa stood on the steps of the Texas governor’s mansion beside an empty lectern and called on Abbott to debate.
Abbott’s campaign did not respond to The Sun’s request for comment.
“I just think Republicans are chickenshit,” Scudder said. “They don’t have a record that they can stand behind or defend. So I don’t blame them for not getting on a debate stage.”
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