I don’t remember the details, but I learned from Well There’s Your Problem that the texas railroad commissioner is a surprisingly powerful position. So much things not really related to railroad is part of their mandate.

The victory marks a major political shift for the three-member Railroad Commission of Texas, which regulates the state’s massive oil and gas industry, overseeing everything from pipeline safety to natural gas rates. […] Despite his victory, Republicans will retain a 2-1 majority on the commission, meaning Rosenthal will face limits on his ability to implement his priorities without support from his Republican colleagues.

For those who don’t know, Karl Rove called French a Nazi and pledged to vote for Rosenthal.