Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has made unfavorable headlines and has garnered negative feedback from his fellow Republicans.
This is apparent from those who still support former President Donald Trump.
“I've not been a fan of Abbott for a year and a half because he's not getting things done that he promised he would,” Richard Kilmer, a Lake Travis resident who said he plans to vote for one of the primary challengers, said to the Texas Tribune. “He's proven he's not an effective leader of this state and he needs to step aside and let other leaders step up.”
Even though the Trump openly endorsed Abbott, that still doesn’t give Abbott favorability within his party. Abbott is also vocal about his support of the ex-president’s ideals.
“The governor can get anything done that he wants done," Julie McCarty, director of the True Texas Project, said to the Tribune. "He’s the governor. He either has no leadership skills or the issues were just not important enough for him to fight for them. This is our chance to put our best candidate forward.”
However, there a some who say Abbott has done well in his position.
“Abbott has been a fantastic governor by any measure,” Corbin Casteel, a political consultant who worked on Trump’s 2016 campaign in Texas, told the Tribune. “There's no reason within the party to replace him.”
Though he has taken a hard-right stance on abortion, the Second Amendment, and election integrity in addition to the coveted endorsement from Trump, Abbott faces hurdles in securing the GOP nod. A recent MAGA rally in Conroe revealed that not all Texas Republicans are all-in with Abbott.
Abbott will go into a primary that also includes former Texas GOP chair Allan West and former state legislator Don Huffines. Those who tire of Abbott believe the Republicans need a new name to take on Democrat Beto O'Rourke in November.
Some people closest to Trump have urged him to retract his endorsement of Abbott. Aside from differing views on policy, those demanding Abbott lose his endorsement allege a campaign staffer of his was critical of Trump on Twitter.
To check your eligibly to vote in the upcoming primaries, visit the VoteTexas website.
