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 almost 14 share factors in 2024. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is just not one among 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 stated. “There is a selection on the poll field. And when these voters go in, they are going to decide on between widespread sense that is provided by Republicans versus the loopy that is provided by the Democrats.”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks on the Conservative Political Motion Convention (CPAC) in Dallas, March 27, 2026.
Gabriela Passos/AP Photograph
Abbott emphasizes that distinction a number of occasions all through the interview — together with when requested in regards to the president’s job efficiency, gasoline 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 could possibly be in danger. Within the ballot of the Senate race, Democrat and state Rep. James Talarico led Texas Legal professional Normal 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, informed Abbott on a radio present in July that Talarico has “an actual probability” to win.
Regardless of polls suggesting Abbott could possibly be in a decent race, Abbott by no means as soon as talked about his Democratic opponent throughout the interview, whereas he talked about Talarico’s title a number of occasions.
At left, Texas Legal professional Normal Ken Paxton speaks in McKinney, Texas, Might 19, 2026, and at proper, Texas state Rep. James Talarico, after voting, in Austin, Texas, Feb. 17, 2026.
Lm Otero/eric Homosexual/AP Photograph/LM Otero/Eric Homosexual
Abbott emphasised his perception that voters will finally determine to vote for Paxton after studying extra about Talarico’s document, 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 stated.
Talarico has repeatedly attacked Paxton for his document, 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 sometimes seen as a referendum on the president. Trump’s approval score — which reached a document low of 35% in a latest Reuters/Ipsos ballot — might drag down Republicans even in a state like Texas.
Karl requested Abbott about Trump’s document on bringing down costs — a prime concern for voters within the midterms — particularly amid the battle with Iran and elevated gasoline prices.
Abbott stated in a put up on X in early July that gasoline costs in Texas would drop under $2 per gallon by the tip of the summer season. Gasoline costs haven’t been under $2 in Texas since 2021, throughout the COVID pandemic, and are roughly the identical since Abbott’s put up — at the moment averaging over $3.60 per gallon, in accordance with GasBuddy.
“When voters go vote in November, they are going to vote on distinction and make a selection about do they need the Republican or the Democrat candidate,” Abbott stated. “The reply to that’s way more complicated than only one worth level about oil.”
Abbott stated he nonetheless expects gasoline costs to drop under $2 per gallon earlier than the tip of this summer season, citing lowered hostilities between the U.S. and Iran. Gasoline costs have remained excessive as a result of minimal visitors is shifting by means of the Strait of Hormuz, a essential waterway for international oil provide, and Iran has reiterated it won’t open the strait except the U.S. agrees to its calls for.
However Abbott nonetheless stated 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, persons are not speaking to me about Trump. We’re speaking in regards to the distinction that exists between Republicans and Democrats in Texas,” Abbott stated.
Abbott’s knowledge middle calls for
As synthetic intelligence knowledge facilities pop up everywhere in the U.S., Texas — already dwelling to greater than 300 knowledge facilities, the second most within the nation — has at the very least 200 extra deliberate tasks, an ABC Information evaluation discovered.
Each polls and public outrage at city halls present a rustic more and more against knowledge facilities in native communities. A July Fox Information ballot discovered that 70% of registered voters oppose an information middle being constructed of their space.
Abbott stated the outrage in Texas stems from the pace of the info middle increase and the shortage of enter from native communities.
“Gaining the help of individuals in native communities is crucial,” Abbott stated. “That is why I’m now coming in as governor saying hear, when you’re an information middle and also you need to function in Texas, it’s important to first get the approval of these in native communities.”
Abbott was governor throughout the speedy buildout of information facilities in Texas, one thing his opponent has attacked him for. Hinojosa accused Abbott of “flip-flopping on knowledge facilities for political factors.”
However as opposition grows, particularly in rural areas, Abbott is one among a number of Republicans taking a harder stance.
Abbott is now selling government motion he has taken as governor to make sure knowledge facilities adjust to sure necessities, together with supplying their very own energy, decreasing the price of electrical energy and never constructing close to neighborhoods. Abbott even paused new knowledge middle tasks in Texas to make sure knowledge middle compliance.
Trump criticized Abbott’s pause, calling it a “mistake.” Abbott dismissed Trump’s remark, saying Texas is in a singular scenario as a result of it has its personal energy grid.
“Now we have created a construction that is going to do greater than any state to resolve the issue,” Abbott stated.
