Politics
Texas Governor Greg Abbott remains confident in Republican prospects despite tight polling
Abbott dismissed concerns over competitive midterm races, predicting victories for himself and Attorney General Ken Paxton while defending recent restrictions on data centers.
The short version
- Texas Governor Greg Abbott expressed confidence that voters will choose Republican candidates over Democrats in the upcoming November midterm elections, brushing off concerns about a recent poll showing tight races.
- A July Texas Pulse poll showed Democratic state Representative James Talarico leading Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton by four points in the Senate race, and Abbott leading Democrat Gina Hinojosa by just one point.
- Abbott defended his recent executive actions placing restrictions and a pause on data centers, dismissing criticism from Donald Trump by pointing out the unique nature of Texas's independent power grid.
Key facts
- A Texas Pulse poll from late July showed Democrat James Talarico leading Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton 47% to 43% in the Texas Senate race.[ABC News]
- The same late July poll showed Governor Greg Abbott leading his Democratic challenger, Gina Hinojosa, by a single percentage point, 46% to 45%.[ABC News]
- Abbott attributed Paxton's polling position to a three-month-long runoff election that delayed his general campaign efforts relative to Talarico.[ABC News]
- Abbott reiterated his prediction that Texas gas prices will drop below $2 per gallon before the end of the summer, despite current averages remaining above $3.60.[ABC News]
- Abbott enacted executive actions requiring new data centers to obtain local community approval, supply their own power, and avoid residential neighborhoods, while pausing new projects to ensure compliance.[ABC News]
- Donald Trump criticized Abbott's pause on data center construction as a 'mistake,' which Abbott dismissed by noting Texas operates its own independent electricity grid.[ABC News]
What remains uncertain
- It remains uncertain whether average Texas gas prices will drop below $2 per gallon before summer's end, given ongoing shipping limitations through the Strait of Hormuz.[ABC News]
Sources
- Texas Gov. Abbott says choice between Talarico and Paxton is 'easy'ABC News - Top Stories