Bo French UT Comments Draw Reaction From Collin County Republicans

By R.J. Morales | TX3DNews

McKINNEY, Texas — A photograph of University of Texas fans has sparked a statewide political fight and a local debate in McKinney over immigration, assimilation and race.

Bo French, the Republican nominee for Texas Railroad Commissioner, posted the photo Sunday showing predominantly South Asian fans celebrating UT’s win over Ohio State.

“I heard UT graduation this year looked like this,” French wrote. “The problem is now obviously far worse than anyone imagined.” He later said social media was exposing “how many Americans have been displaced by foreigners.”

The photograph itself provided no information about the citizenship or immigration status of the people pictured.

French stood by his comments Monday, saying the larger issue was whether policies should “prioritize Americans” or “prioritize foreigners.”

Collin County Republicans respond

French’s comments drew criticism from several Republicans, including lawmakers from Collin County.

State Rep. Jeff Leach, a Plano Republican representing HD-67, posted a photograph of his son Brady with a diverse group of UT students.

“Bo thinks it’s a ‘problem’ they don’t all look like and have the same skin color as Brady,” Leach wrote. “I think that’s racist — and it makes me sick.”

State Rep. Matt Shaheen also criticized French.

“This is disgusting & falls below conservative standards,” Shaheen wrote. “Most importantly, it falls well below the standard set by Christ!”

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn called French’s remarks intolerant and racist and questioned whether other Republican elected officials would condemn them. Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows said immigration policy can be opposed without demeaning people because of race or ethnicity.

The same debate surfaces in McKinney

The arguments over French’s photograph also showed up in a local Facebook discussion.

One commenter, Ethan Higgins, acknowledged what he called “blatant racism by some people,” but said the photograph was also “proof of h1b visa holders taking over certain areas, schools” and said “generational texans” were being replaced.

Nothing in the photograph identified the people pictured as H-1B visa holders.

Another commenter, Mehdi Kouchtaf, questioned how the criticism of the crowd squared with calls for immigrants to assimilate.

“Do you want people to assimilate or not?” Kouchtaf wrote. “There is nothing that screams assimilation more than spending your money to watch football!”

He later asked whether the debate was still about illegal immigration or had become “flat out we don’t want non whites?”

People who have publicly promoted McKinney’s ongoing recall effort also weighed in.

John Aselton responded directly to Cornyn’s criticism of French.

“The new movement is for RESTORATION of the founding principles that have been betrayed,” Aselton wrote. “Bo is one of the few who speaks to this courageously.”

Louis Maldonado shared another French post claiming that “the entire system is biased against heritage Americans and for third worlders.”

“Bo Knows Best,” Maldonado wrote.

Maldonado separately said French had “won me over with facts.”

When Leach defended the UT students, Maldonado responded: “UT turned into a liberal school years ago and while Texas is being invaded @leachfortexas is asking us to assimilate.”

Immigration and assimilation already part of the local debate

The arguments playing out around French’s posts touch on issues that have already been part of political discussions across Collin County, although in different contexts.

State Rep. Candy Noble recently addressed H-1B visas in a newsletter to constituents, including their use to hire foreign teachers in Texas public schools. Noble highlighted Gov. Greg Abbott’s call to stop using public school funds to pay “foreigners to come teach and influence our students.”

U.S. Rep. Keith Self has also been outspoken on immigration and, more recently, what he calls “political Islam” and Sharia law. Self and state Rep. Keresa Richardson both weighed in during the recent debate over an Islamic center proposed in McKinney, with Self urging the city to reject the project and Richardson asking officials to delay action.

French’s remarks have also drawn a response from Evan Hunt, the Democrat challenging Self in TX-03.

“MAGA-Republicans want to make Texas small — smaller in spirit, smaller in who belongs, smaller in how we see each other,” Hunt wrote on social media post.

Hunt later expanded on his criticism in a response to TX3DNews.

“It’s another clear example of the divisive rhetoric that’s become the norm for too many in MAGA Republican leadership, rather than focusing on the actual work of representing people,” Hunt said.

TX3DNews has contacted Self, Richardson and Noble for their views on French’s remarks. None had responded as of publication.

The story will be updated with any responses.