Senate Contender Knocked to Back Page
after Patrick Calls for Local Chair's Head
Capitol Inside
June 29, 2025
Longtime conservative activist Leigh Wambsbanss hit the ground running on Friday when she entered the race for an open Texas Senate seat with glowing endorsements from a pair of heavyhitters in Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Tarrant County GOP Chairman Bo French.
But the Texas GOP power duo knocked the Senate District 9 contender out of the spotlight several hours later after Patrick demanded French's immediate resignation as a consequence of an informal social media poll that asked followers whether Jews or Muslims represent the most serious threat.
"Bo French’s words do not reflect my values nor the values of the Republican Party," Patrick said in a post on X at 7:38 p.m. on Friday. "Antisemitism and religious bigotry have no place in Texas. I am calling for the immediate resignation and replacement of @BoFrenchTX as @tarrantgop Chairman."
But Patrick didn't say whether Wambsganss would have to disavow her support from the local party leader he portrayed as morally degenerate if she hoped to have the powerful state leader in her camp for a SD 9 fight that gets under way with a special election this fall. But French says he has no plans to bow to Patrick in the push for his departure as the party boss in the third largest Texas county with a population that surpassed 2.2 million in U.S. Census estimates in March.
Governor Greg Abbott set the special vote in the Tarrant County Senate district for November 4 for the sake of filling a vacancy that Republican Kelly Hancock left behind when he quit the Legislature last week to take a position as the acting state comptroller while he runs for the statewide post in 2026. Abbott hasn't said who he may be backing in SD 9 in the event that Wambsganss doesn't run unopposed for the seat in the special contest or the primary election in March.
Wambsganss could be the biggest loser in the latest feud between Republican officials here if Patrick threatened to pull the SD 9 endorsement if she refused to sever ties with the local party leader who he accused of blatant bigotry with the call for French's head.
Patrick - the most partisan legislative leader in Texas history without rival - could discover that French may be more popular with the MAGA base with the newfound crusade to muscle him out of the local position. One of the area's most prominent grassroots leaders, Julie McCarthy, gave Patrick a preview of what he probably can expect from conservatives who loyal to French.
"How is it any of your business, @DanPatrick?" McCarthy, who leads the True Texas Project, wrote on X. "This is a Tarrant County matter. When we want your opinion we'll ask for it. I stand with @BoFrenchTX."
The chain of events that could put Wambsbanss' support from Patrick at risk got under way at 3:10 p.m. on Friday when the lieutenant governor pitched his support to her for the SD 9 competition. Wambsganss waited 27 minutes before she post a statement announcing her campaign on X.
French showered Wambsbanss with praise at 5:58 p.m. on Friday. "I have worked side by side with Leigh so I know her heart," the Tarrant chair said on X. "She is a conservative warrior and the Texas Senate will be lucky to have her."
Then - out of the blue at 7:30 p.m. - French announced on the social media site that he'd delete the poll that Patrick would cite in a post of his own on X eight minutes later when he called for the Tarrant chair's resignation without delay.
"Earlier this week I posted a poll following the election of an Islamic communist while I am also working to expose the radical islamists in Tarrant County," French wrote. "Some people clearly misunderstood the intent.
"The poll has been deleted," French added. "I regret posting it. Let me be clear: antisemitism has no place in the Republican Party, and if you disagree with me, get out. We respect the free exercise of religion and we welcome anyone of good faith who shares our conservative values and respects the Constitution."
Wambsganss' emergence in SD 9 was overshadowed dramatically by the war of words between her marquee supporters. She could consider the possibility of a poll of her own on whether she should side with Patrick or French in the dispute that erupted when she just getting the Senate bid off the ground.
Patrick in the meantime set himself up for potential embarrassment by demanding the resignation of a party officer who could be more popular with the conservative base than any Republican at the Capitol.
French capped off the exchange on Friday at 8:15 p.m. with a sugar-coated response on X to the scalding critique. "I respect the lieutenant governor and the good work he’s doing," French said. "I strongly disagree with his assessment of this situation.
I have always strongly supported Israel and I’m not resigning. I’m focused on continuing to make Tarrant County even more Republican.
"Have a great weekend!"
more to come ...
| 
