A tragic incident occurred on March 30, 2026, at Hill Country College Preparatory High School in New Braunfels, located within Comal ISD. A 15-year-old student shot a teacher before taking his own life, according to the sheriff.

Rising Student Violence in Comal ISD

Data analysis reveals an increase in reported incidents of student violence directed toward educators within Comal ISD over the last three school years. This surge in violence follows the recent fatal shooting at the high school campus.

Major PAC Funding Fuels Railroad Commission Runoff

In parallel developments, significant financial backing from a major political action committee (PAC) has bolstered Bo French’s campaign for the Texas Railroad Commission. This PAC is largely financed by prominent, hardline conservative donors.

The Texas Freedom Fund's Influence

The Texas Freedom Fund for the Advancement of Justice, formerly known as Defend Texas Liberty, was the primary financial supporter for French's bid in the March Republican primary. This PAC dedicated $375,000 to French's campaign efforts.

Specifically, the fund contributed $225,000 directly to French and spent an additional $150,000 promoting his candidacy via a widely distributed conservative newsletter. These PACs draw the majority of their funding from West Texas oil billionaires Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks.

Donors' Hardline Agenda

Dunn and Wilks have previously invested tens of millions of dollars to push the Texas GOP and its legislative agenda toward hardline positions, particularly concerning immigration and LGBTQ+ issues. Their PAC funding accounted for over half of the $637,139 French raised up to late February.

This financial infusion secured French a spot in the May runoff election against the incumbent, Jim Wright. The winner will subsequently face Democrat Jon Rosenthal in November for one of the three seats regulating Texas’ vital oil and gas industry.

Comparing Campaign Support

In contrast, incumbent Jim Wright, who won his seat in 2021, garnered nearly $1 million in the year leading up to the primary. His funding included contributions of at least $10,000 each from more than a dozen PACs and donors associated with the oil industry.

Ted Auch, a researcher at the oil and gas watchdog group Fieldnotes, suggested that Dunn and Wilks viewed Wright’s comparatively lackluster campaign as an opening to install their preferred candidate. Experts noted that the rush of donations signals a strong interest in elevating French, described as a far-right evangelist, early in his statewide political career.

The Railroad Commission Race Dynamics

The March primary resulted in Wright receiving 32% of the vote and French securing 31%, forcing the runoff where turnout is expected to be significantly lower. Incumbents facing runoffs are often considered vulnerable after failing to secure a majority in the initial primary.

Whoever wins the nomination is highly likely to secure the commission seat, as no Democrat has held a position on the commission in decades. This commissioner wields substantial influence over energy production, environmental regulation, and the state's economy, given Texas's status as a leading global oil and gas producer.

French's Campaign Focus vs. Commission Issues

Despite the commission's focus on critical issues like produced water waste, carbon capture permitting, and abandoned oil wells, French has rarely discussed these topics publicly. Instead, French, who operates energy security businesses in the Middle East according to his campaign site, has centered his campaign on Islam, the Chinese Government, and diversity.

French has asserted on social media and his website that the commission has permitted the Chinese Communist Party and Islam to operate unchecked within Texas oil fields. He also suggested redirecting funds spent on diversity initiatives toward plugging orphan wells, stating, “If we strip the RRC of all the DEI spending and focus that on the most qualified service companies, the budget for plugging orphan wells goes much further.”

Implications for Future Politics

Joshua Blank, research director at the Texas Politics Project, indicated that the substantial donations signal Dunn and Wilks' desire to support French early in his political trajectory, potentially benefiting them if he seeks higher office later. Blank characterized French as a “natural ally” of donors like Dunn, who seeks to replace moderate Republican elements.

Blank noted, “We are in the midst of a shake-up in the political order in Texas... These are opportunities for those with resources and a desire to get in on the ground floor when it comes to influencing new politicians.” Auch expressed concern that the runoff outcome could derail current commission efforts, such as gathering data on produced water, calling the situation an “existential crisis” for the industry.