Governor Greg Abbott is once again making waves in the Texas GOP primaries, having previously rallied national Republican support to unseat state lawmakers who opposed his school voucher initiative. This aggressive strategy proved effective two years ago, and now Abbott’s influence is being tested anew as he backs several candidates in the upcoming March 3 primary.
Among those Abbott has endorsed are acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock, who is currently trailing in polls as he seeks to secure the permanent position, and businessman Nate Sheets, who faces an uphill battle against Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller. Additionally, Abbott has extended his support to two congressional candidates who are up against opponents endorsed by former President Donald Trump.
This election cycle is particularly significant for Abbott, who appears to wield considerable power within the GOP, a notable shift from recent years when his handling of the Covid pandemic created divisions among Texas Republicans and brought forth a well-funded primary challenger. Through his endorsements for the 2024 primaries, Abbott has cultivated new national alliances, strengthened ties with Trump, and demonstrated to skeptical state lawmakers his capacity to reshape their political futures.
Former Texas GOP chair James Dickey remarked that Abbott’s endorsements reflect his growing influence as he enters his twelfth year in office. “His influence and relationships have certainly matured over time,” Dickey noted, “and it’s not surprising to see him taking a position in an increasing number of races.”
Entering 2026, Abbott boasts a campaign war chest exceeding $100 million, a significant deterrent to any Republican contemplating a challenge after his successful 2024 primary campaign.
However, Abbott now navigates a more complex intraparty landscape, where political dynamics are less straightforward. In federal races, he faces limitations on using state campaign funds to support his candidates.
By endorsing Hancock, a trusted ally whom he appointed as acting comptroller last June, Abbott remains loyal to a longtime legislative partner. Hancock oversees the implementation of the $1 billion school voucher program that Abbott championed, making it crucial for the governor to have a supporter in that role.
The comptroller race is also personal for Abbott, as Hancock’s main opponent is former state Senator Don Huffines, who previously challenged Abbott from the right in the 2022 gubernatorial primary. Huffines has garnered significant endorsements, including from Senator Ted Cruz and the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk, while Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick is also contending for the GOP nomination, despite Abbott’s backing of Hancock.
In a rare move, Abbott has endorsed Sheets against a fellow statewide incumbent, taking a risk on a newcomer with a background in agriculture and military service. Abbott has expressed frustration with Miller, who once considered challenging him in 2022, but Miller has a proven track record of overcoming primary challengers with substantial funding and connections.
Kim Snyder, Abbott’s campaign manager, stated that the governor’s endorsement of Sheets is a response to Miller’s “history of corruption.” Miller has faced scrutiny for hiring his political consultant, Todd Smith, who pleaded guilty to commercial bribery related to hemp licenses regulated by Miller’s agency.
In light of Abbott’s endorsement, Miller has reiterated his past disagreements with the governor, particularly regarding his pandemic-related business closure decisions. “When he steps on agriculture, I hold him accountable,” Miller asserted in a radio interview.
Recent polling from the University of Houston indicates Sheets is trailing Miller by 30 points, while Hancock is eight points behind Craddick for a spot in a runoff against Huffines, with around 30% of likely voters undecided in both races. Abbott endorsed Sheets on January 21, shortly after the survey was conducted.
Trump has remained neutral in the primaries for the comptroller and agriculture commissioner positions, a notable stance given Miller’s longstanding loyalty to him.
Abbott is also leveraging his political capital in congressional primaries this year, following his signature on a new U.S. House map that aims to secure additional Republican seats in Texas. He has endorsed state Representatives Briscoe Cain and John Lujan for two of these newly drawn districts. Abbott views Lujan as a key figure in reaching out to the Hispanic community.
However, just before early voting began, Trump endorsed Lujan’s opponent, Air Force veteran Carlos De La Cruz, and Cain’s challenger, former Harris County judge nominee Alex Mealer. When asked about Trump’s endorsements, Abbott downplayed the significance, emphasizing his long-standing collaboration with Cain on crucial legislative issues.
Abbott’s chief strategist, Dave Carney, emphasized that the governor bases his endorsements on candidates’ overall records and their alignment with his agenda.
Abbott has also entered the race for Harris County judge, a critical contest as he aims to turn the county red again. His chosen candidate, Marty Lancton, faces off against established local politician Orlando Sanchez, who recently led in a University of Houston poll, which also indicated that over half of likely voters remain undecided.
The dynamics of the primaries differ from the previous election cycle, where Abbott invested millions of his own funds to support his favored candidates, many of whom received backing from national voucher groups. This year, some of those same organizations have opposed Abbott’s choices, and he has yet to match his previous financial support for state-level candidates.
Despite these challenges, Abbott has assisted Hancock in tapping into his donor network and promoted the rollout of the voucher program while scheduling campaign appearances with Hancock and Sheets in a statewide effort to boost voter turnout. Hancock has even aired a television ad focused on his close association with Abbott, while the governor recently launched a digital campaign highlighting his support for Hancock.
Nonetheless, Abbott has also endorsed candidates who appear to be frontrunners in their respective primaries and has aligned with Trump on numerous congressional endorsements. Many GOP operatives still regard Abbott’s endorsement as one of the most valuable assets a candidate can receive in a Texas primary, second only to Trump’s endorsement.
A December poll from the University of Texas revealed that Abbott enjoys an 81% favorability rating among Texas GOP voters, just one percentage point behind Trump. Elliott Griffin, a consultant for the Sheets campaign, expressed gratitude for Abbott’s endorsement, describing it as a “shot of B12” in the crucial final weeks of the campaign. “It’s brought excitement, legitimacy, and opened doors for a new group of donors who typically don’t contribute to the agriculture commissioner race,” Griffin added.
