Fox News commentator Karl Rove drew a sharp rebuke from conservative critics after announcing that he would vote for a Democrat in a Texas statewide election. The longtime Republican strategist is backing Jon Rosenthal over Republican nominee Bo French for the Texas Railroad Commission. Steve Ferguson responded by calling Rove “way past his shelf life.” Radio host Todd Starnes also attacked the decision in a September 17th post.
The dispute centers on a seat on the commission that regulates Texas’ oil and gas industry. Rove, a former adviser to President George W. Bush, objected to French’s comments about University of Texas students pictured celebrating a football victory. His decision became public following remarks at a private lunch in Austin, with Rove subsequently explaining his position in a newspaper column.
French had shared a photograph of the student section following Texas’ victory over Ohio State, singling out students he described as foreigners. Rove, who teaches graduate students at the university’s school of public affairs, discussed a hardworking student of South Asian descent while criticizing the Republican nominee. French defended his position and challenged the conservatism of Republicans who objected to his comments.
Ferguson targeted Rove’s television appearances in his September 17th post, writing, “Rove is a frequent flyer on Fox News spreading his RINO bulls—.” He followed that with another jab: “‘The Architect’ is way past his shelf life.” Ferguson attached Starnes’ criticism, which began, “So @KarlRove says he’s not going to vote for @bofrench in November.”
Starnes went on to accuse Rove of supporting positions on transgender issues and opposing parental-rights legislation. His post presented those accusations alongside Rove’s refusal to support French. Starnes finished with a broader attack on the longtime GOP operative: “Rove is the poster child for everything wrong with the Republican Party.”
The Texas Tribune reported that three attendees described Rove’s remarks at the members-only Headliners Club lunch. According to that account, Rove identified former Texas Lt. Governor Bob Bullock, who sought reelection in 1994, as his only previous Democratic vote. French had already attacked Rosenthal during the campaign over a mask the Democrat wore on the Texas House floor supporting transgender youth.
Rove expanded on his objections in a Wall Street Journal column republished on his website September 17th. He cited earlier French posts involving religion and women, along with the football photograph. Rove also pointed to criticism from Republican officials, including Senator John Cornyn and Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows, and argued that welcoming voters who shared conservative principles had helped Republicans build their strength in Texas.
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Watch Rove discuss his decision here:
Rove later discussed the decision during an Economic Club of Chicago conversation with Democratic strategist David Axelrod and interviewer Lisa Desjardins. In the segment aired by PBS News Hour October 1st, he challenged French’s assumptions about the students’ nationality. Rove then confirmed his voting plans: “So I’m voting for my second Democrat in my entire life.” Desjardins also asked whether Rove would support Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton. Axelrod interjected with his own prediction that Rove would refuse. Rove answered the question himself with five words: “I defer to my conscience.”
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video.