Voters in Texas are ushering in the midterm campaign season with primaries Tuesday that will test just how far to the right the Republican Party will shift in a state where many in the GOP have already tightened their embrace of former President Donald Trump.
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott appears well positioned to secure his party’s nomination for another term. Starting the campaign with more than $50 million, he has built hard-line positions on guns, immigration and abortion.
The GOP primary for attorney general may be more competitive as incumbent Ken Paxton seeks a third term. He’s facing several challengers, including Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush and U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, who are vowing to restore order to the office. Paxton led a failed lawsuit to overturn the 2020 election and has for years faced securities fraud charges and an FBI investigation into corruption allegations. He has broadly denied wrongdoing.
Democrats face challenges of their own after nearly three decades of statewide losses. Former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke has little competition for the party’s nomination for governor, but he faces uphill odds going into the fall.
