With simply 72 days to go till November’s midterm elections, some Republicans discover themselves frightened about shedding Texas — a state President Donald Trump received by practically 14 proportion factors in 2024. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is just not one in every of them.
Abbott sat down with ABC Information’ “This Week” co-anchor Jonathan Karl on Friday on the Texas governor’s mansion in Austin, Texas, and made clear he believes Texas voters will see this election as a distinction between Democrats and Republicans.
“What issues in elections is just not in August, what issues in elections is November,” Abbott mentioned. “There is a selection on the poll field. And when these voters go in, they are going to decide on between frequent sense that is supplied by Republicans versus the loopy that is supplied by the Democrats.”
Gabriela Passos/AP Picture – PHOTO: Greg Abbott
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Abbott emphasizes that distinction a number of occasions all through the interview — together with when requested in regards to the president’s job efficiency, fuel costs, the Texas Senate race and even who ought to lead the Republican Occasion after Trump.
The Texas governor’s remarks come as a Texas Pulse ballot performed in late July discovered that the GOP’s decades-long grip on the state of Texas may very well be in danger. Within the ballot of the Senate race, Democrat and state Rep. James Talarico led Texas Legal professional Basic Ken Paxton by 4 factors: 47% to 43%. In that very same ballot, Abbott — who’s operating for a fourth time period as governor — led his Democratic challenger, State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, by one level, 46% to 45%.
Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican who has been in aggressive races himself, advised Abbott on a radio present in July that Talarico has “an actual likelihood” to win.
Regardless of polls suggesting Abbott may very well be in a good race, Abbott by no means as soon as talked about his Democratic opponent through the interview, whereas he talked about Talarico’s title a number of occasions.
Lm Otero/eric Homosexual/AP Picture/LM Otero/Eric Homosexual – PHOTO: Election 2026 Senate Democrats
Abbott emphasised his perception that voters will in the end resolve to vote for Paxton after studying extra about Talarico’s report, which he referred to as “loopy.”
“[Paxton] was in a three-month-long runoff that demanded capital, it demanded campaigning, demanded his consideration, and so he is simply now catching up within the marketing campaign course of with Talarico,” Abbott mentioned.
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Talarico has repeatedly attacked Paxton for his report, which incorporates being impeached by the GOP-led Texas Home in 2023. Paxton was acquitted by the Texas Senate.
Referendum on Trump?
Nonetheless, midterm elections are usually seen as a referendum on the president. Trump’s approval ranking — which reached a report low of 35% in a current Reuters/Ipsos ballot — may drag down Republicans even in a state like Texas.
Karl requested Abbott about Trump’s report on bringing down costs — a prime subject for voters within the midterms — particularly amid the struggle with Iran and elevated gas prices.
Abbott mentioned in a put up on X in early July that fuel costs in Texas would drop under $2 per gallon by the top of the summer season. Fuel costs haven’t been under $2 in Texas since 2021, through the COVID pandemic, and are roughly the identical since Abbott’s put up — presently averaging over $3.60 per gallon, in line with GasBuddy.
“When voters go vote in November, they’ll vote on distinction and make a selection about do they need the Republican or the Democrat candidate,” Abbott mentioned. “The reply to that’s way more advanced than only one value level about oil.”
Abbott mentioned he nonetheless expects fuel costs to drop under $2 per gallon earlier than the top of this summer season, citing diminished hostilities between the U.S. and Iran. Fuel costs have remained excessive as a result of minimal visitors is shifting by means of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for world oil provide, and Iran has reiterated it won’t open the strait until the U.S. agrees to its calls for.
However Abbott nonetheless mentioned he doesn’t purchase that voters will head to the polls with Trump on their minds.
“What I am listening to on the marketing campaign path, individuals are not speaking to me about Trump. We’re speaking in regards to the distinction that exists between Republicans and Democrats in Texas,” Abbott mentioned.
Abbott’s information heart calls for
As synthetic intelligence information facilities pop up all around the U.S., Texas — already residence to greater than 300 information facilities, the second most within the nation — has at the very least 200 extra deliberate initiatives, an ABC Information evaluation discovered.
Each polls and public outrage at city halls present a rustic more and more against information facilities in native communities. A July Fox Information ballot discovered that 70% of registered voters oppose an information heart being constructed of their space.
Abbott mentioned the outrage in Texas stems from the velocity of the info heart increase and the shortage of enter from native communities.
“Gaining the assist of individuals in native communities is important,” Abbott mentioned. “That is why I’m now coming in as governor saying hear, if you happen to’re an information heart and also you need to function in Texas, it’s a must to first get the approval of these in native communities.”
Abbott was governor through the speedy buildout of information facilities in Texas, one thing his opponent has attacked him for. Hinojosa accused Abbott of “flip-flopping on information facilities for political factors.”
However as opposition grows, particularly in rural areas, Abbott is one in every of a number of Republicans taking a harder stance.
Abbott is now selling govt motion he has taken as governor to make sure information facilities adjust to sure necessities, together with supplying their very own energy, lowering the price of electrical energy and never constructing close to neighborhoods. Abbott even paused new information heart initiatives in Texas to make sure information heart compliance.
Trump criticized Abbott’s pause, calling it a “mistake.” Abbott dismissed Trump’s remark, saying Texas is in a novel scenario as a result of it has its personal energy grid.
“We have now created a construction that is going to do greater than any state to unravel the issue,” Abbott mentioned.