The March 1 Texas primary marks the official start of the 2022 election season, and it’s also the first test of an incumbent GOP governor who’s facing a primary. But unlike other races in Georgia, Idaho and maybe even Alabama, Gov. Greg Abbott isn’t facing anti-Trump opposition. In fact, Abbott has the coveted endorsement of the former president as he seeks his third term in office. Over the past year, Abbott has sought to shore up his right flank. Despite several noteworthy challengers, he still looks well-poised to win the primary outright without a runoff and is also favored in the general election.
Abbott’s two top challengers are Allen West, a controversial former Florida congressman who later became chairman of the Texas Republican Party before stepping down to challenge Abbott; and Don Huffines, a former state senator who’s already spent more than $4.3 million on ads, according to Ad Impact. Both hopefuls took aim at some of Abbott’s decisions during the pandemic, including statewide mask mandates and business closures, but Texas lifted those restrictions very early. Nonetheless, over the
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