Karl Rove says he will vote for Democrat Jon Rosenthal after Bo French’s ‘raw, uncut bigotry’ post
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- Karl Rove announced he will vote for Democrat Jon Rosenthal in the race against Republican Bo French.
- Rove called a social-media post by Bo French showing University of Texas at Austin students “raw, uncut bigotry.”
- Rove had previously called French a “bigot” and cited other alleged racist remarks against Hispanics.
- Rove said French has also made controversial comments about women and non-Christians.
- Rove wrote this will be only the second time he has voted for a Democrat, the first being Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock in 1994.
Karl Rove announced he will cast his vote for Democrat Jon Rosenthal after Bo French posted a social-media image of University of Texas students that Rove described as "raw, uncut bigotry," and Rove called French a "bigot" in a Wall Street Journal op-ed (per Washington Examiner).
Rove framed his decision as a moral rebuke to behavior he sees as unacceptable within his own party, writing that "the GOP's stables need a cleaning" in the same piece (per Washington Examiner).
The Washington Examiner reports Rove used the op-ed to explain his personal vote choice rather than announcing any organizational endorsement or broader party shift (per Washington Examiner).
Rove's move places a prominent Republican strategist publicly against Bo French while signaling willingness to cross party lines in at least this race; the story centers on Rove's unique standing and the rhetorical weight his statement carries inside Republican circles (per Washington Examiner).
The source does not quote Bo French's original social post text beyond describing the image Rove reacted to, nor does it include reaction from Jon Rosenthal, Bo French, or other Republican leaders in the district (per Washington Examiner).
This account is limited to Rove's own published words in the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Examiner's reporting of them; it documents a high-profile intra-party dispute made public through an op-ed rather than through campaign or party machinery (per Washington Examiner).
Left- and right-leaning outlets are covering this story differently — in which facts to emphasize, which context to include, and how to frame causes and consequences.