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.
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.