Top Texas Republicans and some of the state’s biggest oil and gas producers closed ranks in recent weeks to boost an incumbent energy regulator trying to knock off a hard-right challenger.
Jim Wright, who is seeking a second term on the Railroad Commission of Texas, won 32 percent of the vote in a five-way race in the Republican primary in March.
Bo French, who is known for social media posts disparaging immigrants and Muslims, finished with just over 31 percent.
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The difference was less than 7,000 votes. The results set off alarm bells — and oil companies opened their checkbooks during the runoff campaign as politicians warned that the seat could fall into Democratic hands if French won the Republican primary.
