Greg Abbott Skips Trump Rally Amid Tight Gubernatorial Race

Texas Governor Greg Abbott will skip a campaign rally in San Antonio headlined by President Donald Trump this week, citing scheduling conflicts. Instead, Abbott is holding separate events in Jasper and College Station, including a small barbecue. The decision comes as Abbott faces an unexpectedly competitive reelection bid against Democrat Gina Hinojosa, who leads him 49% to 46% in a New York Times/Siena poll and by 3 points in another survey.

Financial filings reveal a stark contrast in campaign strategies. Abbott has spent $141.3 million since the start of the year, significantly reducing a cash advantage that began at $105.7 million. While he raised over $20 million between July and late September through wealthy donors and business leaders, he ended the most recent reporting period with between $17 million and $18.2 million on hand. Hinojosa has run a small-dollar funded campaign, raising more than $13 million and spending between $12.1 million and $17 million.

Abbott's campaign has dismissed polls showing Hinojosa in the lead as "bogus," but the race marks the first time Abbott has trailed in any of his four gubernatorial campaigns. The contest is unfolding amid voter dissatisfaction over property taxes and AI data centers, as well as declining approval ratings for President Trump in Texas. Voters will cast ballots in the midterms on November 3.