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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGreg Abbott skipped or did not speak at Texas GOP Convention
While the Texas gop convention is in Houston, I have tried to not follow this event more than necessary. I was surprised to see that Governor Greg Abbott did not speak at this event. That is very strange to me. This is the first time that Greg has not addressed a Texas GOP state convention.
Link to tweet
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/Gov-Greg-Abbott-plays-reduced-role-as-GOP-17247600.php?utm_campaign=CMS%20Sharing%20Tools%20(Premium)&utm_source=t.co&utm_medium=referral
Though Abbotts campaign insists they never considered skipping the biennial event, he is playing a much different role than any Republican governor over the last three decades. Abbott hosted the reception near the convention, but is not scheduled to formally address the delegates at their general meetings like he and Govs. Rick Perry and George W. Bush have at almost every GOP convention for the last 30 years.......
Though Abbotts campaign insists they never considered skipping the biennial event, he is playing a much different role than any Republican governor over the last three decades. Abbott hosted the reception near the convention, but is not scheduled to formally address the delegates at their general meetings like he and Govs. Rick Perry and George W. Bush have at almost every GOP convention for the last 30 years......
Even the current chairman, Matt Rinaldi, cant be mistaken as a fan. Before becoming chairman he endorsed former State Sen. Don Huffines in the governors race over Abbott; he eventually withdrew the support to maintain neutrality while leading the party.
Rinaldi set a tone on Thursday in an introductory speech where he praised Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, but never once mentioned Abbott.
Houston used to be Greg's home city when he was at a law firm. For Greg to skip the convention shows some divisions in the party
viva la
(3,224 posts)Even Craven Abbott isn't Q enough for this new Texas party.
Good. I hope they cannibalize.
SharonClark
(10,005 posts)LetMyPeopleVote
(143,998 posts)Beto needs to take advantage of this division
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/Texas-Republicans-warn-divisions-could-hand-the-17251136.php?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=referral
It led to an odd dynamic this week, with Abbott skipping out on speaking at the official convention meetings for the first time during his two terms as governor. The governor held an informal reception nearby and hasnt had advertising around the convention like he did at past conventions.
Huffines, who was more of a presence at the convention, is adding to the concern among Republicans that some could skip the race. In an interview, he refused to say hes voting for Abbott in the fall.
Were tired of having to hold our nose to vote for people who dont do what we want, Huffines said......
That fear is based on recent election data. In 2018, when ORourke came within 3 percentage points of defeating U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, nearly every statewide Republican had the closest re-election of their career, even against dramatically underfunded Democratic opponents with little name recognition.
Patrick, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller all won their re-elections with just 51 percent of the vote in 2018, when four years earlier without ORourke at the top of the ticket they were all near 60 percent.
ReluctanceTango
(219 posts)Even if he loses, it would be awesome if he once again has long coattails. We could flip the legislature and maybe a lesser statewide office or two (or more) to make the party viable in the state again.