The Texas gubernatorial matchup was set up during Tuesday's primary election.

Shannon Longworth Reporter

2022 Texas primary: Abbott-O’Rourke matchup set, centrists struggle

Mar 02, 2022

Shannon Longworth Reporter

By Shannon Longworth (Reporter), Ben Burke (Producer/Editor)

The heavyweight gubernatorial matchup of Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) and former Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke is now set in stone for November following Texas’ primary elections. Both Gov. Abbott and O’Rourke won their respective primaries. According to the results on Texas’s elections website, Abbott secured the Republican nomination with over 66% of the vote. O’Rourke, who announced his intention to run last November, won the Democratic primary with over 91% of the vote. Both nominees hit on the economy in election night speeches.

“Republicans sent a message, they want to keep Texas the land of opportunity and prosperity for absolutely everybody, the prosperity that we have delivered over the past eight years,” Abbott said. “We are going to deliver a Texas for working families who can flourish under the opportunities provided by the ninth largest economy in the entire world.”

“What I need to do with Abbott is make sure that you know exactly how badly he’s failed you,” O’Rourke said. “Your electricity bills, which are up 40 to 60 bucks a month over this same time last year and will continue to go up over the next 20 years. That’s on him. That’s the Abbott tax.”

Centrists on both sides of the aisle struggled to put away opponents further along the political spectrum. On the Democratic side, Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) is headed to a runoff with progressive candidate Jessica Cisneros. As of Wednesday afternoon, Rep. Cuellar held a 4% lead. He is widely known as one of the most conservative Democrats in the house.

Rep. Van Taylor’s (R-TX) primary election is also headed to a runoff. He has been the source of Republican attacks over his vote to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election. He has a more sizable lead over his four opponents, who have largely refused to accept the results.

Another primary election heading to a runoff is for Texas Attorney General. Ken Paxton (R-TX), who recently made headlines for declaring gender affirming care for children to be child abuse, held over 42% of the vote as of Wednesday afternoon. He and George P. Bush, the grandson of former President George H.W. Bush, were the top two vote getters in a field that included Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX).

Shannon Longworth: THE HEAVYWEIGHT GUBERNATORIAL RACE BETWEEN TEXAS GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT AND FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE BETO O-ROURKE IS NOW OFFICIALLY SET IN STONE FOR NOVEMBER.
BOTH CANDIDATES EASILY WON THEIR RESPECTIVE PRIMARIES TUESDAY…
NEITHER WASTED THEIR TIME MAKING A CASE FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION.
Gov. Greg Abbott // (R) Texas: “Republicans sent a message, they want to keep Texas the land of opportunity and prosperity for absolutely everybody, the prosperity that we have delivered over the past eight years.”

Beto O’Rourke // (D) Texas Gubernatorial Candidate: “What I need to do with Abbott is make sure that you know exactly how badly he’s failed you. Your electricity bills, which are up 40 to 60 bucks a month over this same time last year and will continue to go up over the next 20 years. That’s on him. That’s the Abbott tax.”
Shannon Longworth: AS FOR SOME OF THE OTHER PRIMARY ELECTIONS IN TEXAS:
WE SAW MORE SUCCESS ON EITHER END OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM — LESS IN THE MIDDLE.
REPRESENTATIVE HENRY CUELLAR — KNOWN WIDELY AS ONE OF THE MOST CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE — WAS PUSHED TO A RUNOFF BY PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATE JESSICA CISNEROS.
MEANWHILE — REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE VAN TAYLOR — WHO GOT HEAT FROM HIS OWN PARTY FOR VOTING TO CERTIFY THE RESULTS OF THE 20-20 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION — WAS PUSHED TO A RUNOFF BY FOUR FELLOW REPUBLICANS WHO LARGELY REFUSED TO ACCEPT PRESIDENT BIDEN’S WIN.