Abbott Ignores Trump, Insults Him
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott will not be joining President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in San Antonio this week, even as Republicans face increasingly competitive races across the state.
Trump is scheduled to visit Texas on Wednesday to campaign for Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is running against Democrat James Talarico for a U.S. Senate seat. Republican congressional candidate Carlos De La Cruz is also expected to appear at the event.
Abbott’s campaign confirmed that the governor will be elsewhere that day. Abbott addressed the issue Monday during a law enforcement roundtable in Houston, explaining that his schedule already includes multiple events in different Texas cities.
While Abbott will miss Trump’s appearance, he acknowledged the president’s ability to energize Republican voters and bring the party’s supporters to the polls.
Trump’s visit will be his third trip to Texas in less than a month, highlighting the importance Republicans are placing on the state as they work to protect their position heading into the November election.
The president’s frequent appearances also come as several Republican candidates around the country have taken a more cautious approach to campaigning alongside him. Concerns over the cost of living and U.S. military operations involving Iran have created difficult political issues for some GOP candidates.
Abbott, however, has continued to publicly praise parts of the Trump administration’s agenda. At the Republican Party’s midterm convention in Dallas last month, the governor specifically pointed to the administration’s immigration enforcement efforts and welcomed Trump’s presence in Texas.
At the same time, Abbott is facing a serious political test of his own.
His reelection campaign has been watching Democratic challenger Gina Hinojosa gain ground in recent polling. One recent New York Times/Siena poll showed Hinojosa holding a four-point advantage over Abbott. A Fox News survey conducted around the same period produced a very different result, putting Abbott five points ahead among registered voters.
The conflicting numbers leave the governor with reason to pay close attention to the race, even though he remains confident in his campaign.
When asked Monday about the latest polling, Abbott pointed to his campaign’s private numbers rather than the public surveys, saying he remains comfortable with his position.
For now, Abbott will focus on his own campaign schedule while Trump heads to San Antonio to rally Republican voters and support Paxton.
The governor’s absence is not being presented as a break with Trump, but it comes at a notable moment for Texas Republicans, with both the Senate race and governor’s race drawing more attention as Election Day approaches.
