OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
As expected by many, the Texas gubernatorial race will come down to Republican Greg Abbott and Democrat Beto O’Rourke.
Abbott, the incumbent Republican governor, won the GOP primary with ease on Tuesday night.
O’Rourke – a former congressman, failed U.S. Senate nominee, and failed presidential candidate – won the Democratic primary.
According to the New York Times election tracker, Abbott received 1,234,836 votes and avoided a run-off by winning roughly 66% of the vote in the GOP primary.
O’Rourke received 911,554 votes, which was about 91 percent of the votes cast in the Democratic primary.
“Tonight, Republicans sent a message. They want to keep Texas on the extraordinary path of opportunity that we have provided over the past eight years. A Texas where working families can flourish under the ninth-largest economy in the world. A Texas where students are prepared and inspired for college or a career. A Texas that supports our law enforcement officers who keep our communities safe. A Texas where we protect your constitutional rights and individual liberties. A Texas where everyone has a path to prosperity” said Abbott after claiming victory on Tuesday night.
And that’s that! Beto O’Rourke is set to face Gov. Abbott in the general election this November. #ElectionDay pic.twitter.com/lZPkbVn4EC
— CBS DFW (@CBSDFW) March 2, 2022
CNN PROJECTION: Greg Abbott will win the Texas gubernatorial Republican primary https://t.co/HIKMLWMe8O
CNN PROJECTION: Beto O’Rourke will win the Texas gubernatorial Democratic primary https://t.co/LLlondu4LS pic.twitter.com/XKELbjTMst
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) March 2, 2022
A recent poll revealed that Abbott tops and leads O’Rourke in the Texas gubernatorial race.
A poll from The Hill/Emerson College Polling found that 61 percent of likely voters in Texas support Abbott’s re-election campaign.
Abbott, who has been governor for seven years, is also leading in the poll’s general election matchup against O’Rourke.
Abbott currently leads O’Rourke in the poll by seven points, with 52 percent supporting Abbott and 45 percent supporting O’Rourke. Three percent said they are “unsure.”
Abbott held a press conference earlier this week and announced that Texas had won Site Selection magazine’s Governor’s Cup for the tenth year in a row.
The award highlights top-performing states for job creation and capital investment.
“Texas continues to shine as the beacon of economic prosperity in America, and I am proud to accept Site Selection’s Governor’s Cup for a record-shattering tenth straight year,” said Abbott.
“Texas is the new frontier where dreams, families, and jobs grow. This honor is a testament to the unmatched business climate and highly skilled and diverse workforce we have cultivated here in the Lone Star State, and I thank the exceptional economic development teams across our state who have worked diligently to attract new, innovative businesses to their communities and bring more economic opportunity to hardworking Texans. As we celebrate the resurgence of the mighty Texas economy, we look to the future with high and hopeful expectations of an even brighter, more prosperous future for generations of Texans,” he added.
