Pooja Sethi dares Ken Paxton to condemn Bo French's attacks on Indian Americans
Synopsis
On the eve of the Texas election, Indian American Democratic candidate Pooja Sethi publicly called out Republican Ken Paxton for visiting a Hindu temple while refusing to name Bo French in any condemnation — a move critics call vote-courting hypocrisy. With 54 million views on French's original post and Sethi potentially making history as the first South Asian woman in the Texas Legislature, the controversy has put Indian American political visibility squarely on the ballot.
Key Takeaways
Pooja Sethi , Democratic candidate for Texas House District 47 , publicly challenged Ken Paxton to condemn Bo French's anti-Indian American posts on the eve of the 4 November election.
Bo French's 13 September X post mocking the presence of South Asian students at a University of Texas event has been viewed more than 54 million times .
Paxton issued a condemnation of 'racism' that did not name French, instead attacking his Democratic opponent James Talarico .
Paxton reportedly visited the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Irving on 31 October , days before the election, according to X user Vasant Bhatt .
If elected, Sethi would be the first South Asian woman in the Texas Legislature .
Indian American Democratic candidate Pooja Sethi, running for Texas House District 47 in Austin, has publicly challenged Republican US Senate nominee and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to condemn anti-Indian American posts by fellow Republican Bo French — accusing Paxton of courting the community's votes while remaining silent on the bigotry within his own party. The challenge came on the eve of Tuesday's election, amplifying a controversy that has drawn national attention to anti-South Asian sentiment in Texas politics.
The Challenge on X
Sethi posted directly on X, tagging Paxton: 'Waiting for @KenPaxtonTX to condemn Bo French's bigoted attacks on Indian Americans. Or does that outrage disappear when he needs our votes?' The post quoted Vasant Bhatt, an X user who claimed sources told him Paxton had visited the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Irving on 31 October — just days before the election. Bhatt wrote: 'So you want to walk into our temples, kneel before our deities, and participate in our sacred worship when there's an election to win, while simultaneously associating yourself with and endorsing people who are unabashed Hinduphobes and racists?' Bhatt noted he was 'currently seeking photographic confirmation of the reported visit.'
What Bo French Posted and Why It Sparked Outrage
Bo French, the Republican nominee for the Texas Railroad Commission — the state's oil and gas regulator — ignited the controversy on 13 September with a post on X alongside a photograph of University of Texas students, many of South Asian descent, celebrating a football win. French wrote: 'I heard UT graduation this year looked like this. I didn't believe it. The problem is now obviously far worse than anyone imagined.' The post has since been viewed more than 54 million times, according to X, drawing widespread condemnation from Indian American groups and civil rights advocates.
Paxton's Selective Condemnation
On the same day French's post went viral, Paxton issued a statement that notably did not mention French by name. 'I condemn racism in all its forms, including James Talarico saying white men are America's top terror threat and that he prays to overcome his own 'whiteness,' whatever that means,' Paxton posted — pivoting instead to an attack on his Democratic Senate opponent, James Talarico. Talarico had earlier challenged Paxton on X: '@KenPaxtonTX: will you condemn this blatant racism or will you cower to extremists?' Critics argue Paxton's response was a deliberate deflection that shielded French from accountability while using the moment for partisan attack.
Sethi's Historic Candidacy and Final Pitch
If elected, Sethi would become the first South Asian woman in the Texas Legislature. An attorney and former chair of the Travis County Democratic Party, she has made the row over French's posts central to her closing argument. 'At a time when hate is on the rise, we have the opportunity to make history. We will not be intimidated. We will not be silenced. Hate has no home in Texas,' she wrote on Sunday ahead of election day. Paxton's campaign did not respond to the posts at the time of reporting.
Broader Context
This comes amid heightened scrutiny of anti-South Asian sentiment in American political discourse, with Indian American communities increasingly vocal about demanding explicit condemnation — not just generic statements — from candidates who seek their support. The Texas race is one of several this cycle where Indian American voters and candidates have pushed back against what they describe as coded or overt Hinduphobia. Texas votes on Tuesday, 4 November 2026.
Point of View
Name an opponent, shield a party colleague. The reported temple visit days before the election only sharpens the contradiction. Indian American communities in Texas and beyond are increasingly unwilling to accept token outreach that coexists with silence on intra-party Hinduphobia — and this race is testing whether that shift has electoral teeth. If Sethi wins, it becomes a data point; if she loses despite this moment, the lesson mainstream parties draw will matter for cycles to come.
NationPress
3 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Bo French post that caused controversy?
Bo French, the Republican nominee for the Texas Railroad Commission, posted on X on 13 September alongside a photo of University of Texas students — many of South Asian descent — celebrating a football win, writing that 'the problem is now obviously far worse than anyone imagined.' The post has been viewed more than 54 million times and was widely condemned as racist and anti-Indian American.
Why is Pooja Sethi challenging Ken Paxton specifically?
Sethi challenged Paxton because, despite being the senior Republican figure in the race, he declined to name Bo French in any condemnation after French's post went viral. Critics, including Democratic opponent James Talarico, argued Paxton's generic 'I condemn racism' statement — which attacked Talarico instead — amounted to protecting French while seeking Indian American votes.
Did Ken Paxton actually visit a Hindu temple before the election?
X user Vasant Bhatt claimed, citing sources, that Paxton visited the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Irving on 31 October. Bhatt said he was seeking photographic confirmation. Paxton's campaign did not respond to these claims at the time of reporting.
Who is Pooja Sethi and why is her candidacy significant?
Pooja Sethi is an attorney, former chair of the Travis County Democratic Party, and the Democratic candidate for Texas House District 47 in Austin. If elected, she would be the first South Asian woman in the Texas Legislature, making her race historically significant for Indian American political representation.
When did Texas vote and what was at stake for Indian Americans?
Texas held its election on Tuesday, 4 November 2026. For Indian American voters, the stakes included both Sethi's historic candidacy and the broader question of whether Republican candidates who court Hindu and South Asian communities would be held accountable for tolerating anti-Indian sentiment within their own party ranks.
