Governor

Current: Greg Abbott

Background

In the 2022 midterm elections, the top race on ballots in Texas will be for governor. The current head of the executive branch in the Lone Star State is Gov. Greg Abbott, who is seeking reelection for his third term. He handily won the Republican primaries in 2014 and 2018 with over 90 percent of the vote each time and won the general elections with 59 percent and 56 percent during those years, respectively.

This year, though, Abbott is facing several challengers within his own party who are more well funded and have broader name recognition than his previous GOP opponents. Conservative humorist Chad Prather was the first well known challenger to join the primary, followed by former state Sen. Don Huffines. And in July, former Florida Congressman Allen West resigned from his position as the chairman of the Republican Party of Texas in order to join the gubernatorial race as well.

Fundraising

Notes: Campaign finance numbers for Gov. Abbott are taken from his candidate/office-holder account and his Texans for Greg Abbott SPAC.

Coverage

• Governor Candidates Weigh in on Texas Democrats’ Quorum-Breaking Flight
• Texas GOP Candidates For Governor Off To A Strong Fundraising Start With Nearly $28 Million Combined
• Allen West Enters Heated GOP Gubernatorial Race, Challenging Incumbent Greg Abbott
• Trump Praises Abbott, Hints At Second Presidential Run In Hidalgo County Border Visit
• Illegal Immigration, Border Security Take Center Stage In Texas’ Gubernatorial Race
• Former President Trump Endorses Governor Abbott For Re-Election
• Former State Senator Don Huffines To Challenge Governor Abbott In GOP Primary
• Ken Paxton Slams New York Times After He Reportedly Declined To Back Greg Abbott’s Reelection
• Conservative Humorist Chad Prather Launches Campaign for Texas Governor

Polling

• June 22-29, 2021: UT Tyler (1,090 registered voters; +/-3.0% margin of error)
  • (440 GOP Primary Voters): 77% for Abbott; 12% for Huffines; 11% for someone else
  • (477 GOP Primary Voters): 52% for Abbott; 22% for “someone more like Donald Trump”; 13% for “a more conservative Republican”; 12% for “a more centrist Republican”
  • (Total Voters): 46% for Abbott; 22% for Huffines; 32% for someone else
  • (Total Voters): 39% for Abbott; 38% for Matthew McConaughey; 23% for someone else
  • (Total Voters): 45% for Abbott; 33% for O’Rourke; 22% for someone else
• April 6-13, 2021: UT Tyler (1,126 registered voters; +/-2.9% margin of error)
  • (508 GOP Primary Voters): 47% for Abbott; 20% for “a more centrist Republican”; 18% for “someone more like Donald Trump”; 14% for “a more conservative Republican”
  • (Total Voters): 45% for Matthew McConaughey; 33% for Abbott 22% for someone else

Last updated: July 16, 2021

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Lieutenant Governor

Current: Dan Patrick

Background

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is seeking his third term as the state’s second-ranking executive and the presiding officer of the Texas Senate. Patrick has held the role since he ousted former Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in the 2014 Republican primary runoff with 65 percent of the vote. He won the general election with 58 percent of the vote in 2014 and then again in 2018 with 51.3 percent of the vote against the Democratic nominee, Mike Collier, who received 46.49 percent.

Collier is now challenging Patrick again for the position, hoping that the scales tip toward Democrats’ favor even more than in their 2018 successes.

Fundraising

Note: Campaign finance numbers for Lt. Gov. Patrick are taken from his COH account and his Texans for Dan Patrick SPAC.

Coverage

• The Back Mic: GOP State Rep. Opposes Dan Patrick’s Re-Election, Abbott Tempers Legislative Funding Threat, Revival of Property Tax Break Floated
• The Back Mic: Status of Emergency Item Bills Listed, Collier Poised to Run Again for Lt. Governor, Federal Aid Presents Budget Conundrum

Last updated: July 16, 2021

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Attorney General

Current: Ken Paxton

Background

Among the most heated primary races in Texas is the GOP race for the Office of the Attorney General (OAG). Current Attorney General Ken Paxton is seeking reelection, but after several of his senior aides accused him of abuse of office and eventually filed a whistleblower lawsuit after being fired, other Republicans who have also been elected to a statewide position see an opportunity to climb the political ladder.

George P. Bush, the current land commissioner for the state, announced his campaign in early June, and later that month Eva Guzman resigned from her position on the Texas Supreme Court in order to launch her campaign for the OAG. The latest Republican entry into the race is Rep. Matt Krause (R-Fort Worth), a member of the conservative Texas Freedom Caucus, who announced in mid-September.

Democrats so far have two formal candidates in the race, former Galveston mayor Joe Jaworski and Lee Merritt, an attorney known for representing families of individuals killed by police officers.

Fundraising

Coverage

• State Rep. Matt Krause Launches Bid for Texas Attorney General
• Republican Attorney General Candidates All Raise 7 Figures In First Filing
• Former Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman Launches Texas Attorney General Campaign
• Eva Guzman Files For Texas Attorney General In Race Against Paxton, Bush
• Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman Resigns
• George P. Bush Announces Challenge To Ken Paxton For Texas Attorney General

Polling

• June 22-29, 2021: UT Tyler (1,090 registered voters; 337 GOP primary voters +/-3.0% margin of error)
  • Paxton: 42%
  • Bush: 34%
  • Guzman: 4%
  • Someone else: 12%
  • I don’t know: 8%

Last updated: July 16, 2021

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Agriculture Commissioner

Current: Sid Miller

Background

While the current Agriculture Commissioner, Sid Miller, mulled the idea of running for a higher office, he ultimately decided to seek reelection to his current position in 2022. But that reelection won’t come without any opposition in the Republican primary. Most notably so far, state Rep. James White (R-Hillister) announced that this is his last term in the House but is running for the statewide position.

Fundraising

Coverage

• State Rep. James White Announces Campaign For Texas Agriculture Commissioner
• The Back Mic: Abbott Names Three Items for July Session, Sid Miller Opts for Re-Election, GOP Lawmaker Joins Democrats in Medicaid Push

Last updated: July 16, 2021

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Land Commissioner

Current: George P. Bush

Background

With the current head of the General Land Office (GLO), George P. Bush, running on the ballot for attorney general instead of reelection, the position will be open for another person to fill.

The highest-profile candidate to launch a campaign is current state Sen. Dawn Buckingham (R-Lakeway). Jon Spiers, who unsuccessfully ran for Texas’ 2nd Congressional District when it was open in 2018, is also in the race as a Republican, as is Weston Martinez, a former Texas real estate commissioner appointed under Gov. Rick Perry.

Fundraising

Coverage

• Sen. Dawn Buckingham Announces Campaign for Land Commissioner

Last updated: July 16, 2021

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