Facing political headwinds, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and national Republicans develop strategies to curb losses in upcoming midterm elections. Abbott is...
National Republicans want to maintain control of the U.S. House and Senate, while Abbott wants to keep Texas bright red.Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference, on Friday, March 27, 2026, at Gaylord Texan Resort and Conference Center in Grapevine.
last week during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Grapevine. “We’re going to keep Texas red. We’re going to safeguard the values that keep Texas Texas.”The governor doesn’t mention Hinojosa’s name on the campaign trail, and when his team is asked questions about his opponent, the initial response is, “Who?”Texas Governor Greg Abbott speaks as Texas Senator Bryan Hughes looks on during the Conservative Political Action Conference, on Friday, March 27, 2026 at Gaylord Texan Resort and Conference Center in Grapevine.Abbott’s attacks on Talarico have a broader political purpose. It’s part of a Republican strategy to blunt Democratic momentum and shield their candidates from headwinds the party faces in the midterm elections.With that money, he’ll unleash an army of campaign field workers backed by a traditional and digital media campaign.While Abbott doesn’t think Hinojosa is a threat, he’s concerned down-ballot Republicans could get washed away in a blue wave. Attacking Talarico, who will have more money, resources and name recognition than any other Democratic candidate, is a top priority of Republican leadership inside and outside of Texas. James Talarico, Texas Democratic Senate candidate, talks to supporters during a Texas Together rally at Ridglea Theater on Friday, March 20, 2026, in Fort Worth.Michael Adams, a pollster and public affairs professor at Texas Southern University, said Republicans have staged early attacks on Talarico’s progressive religious views, Texas House votes on culture war issues and old comments telling Texans to stop eating meat to curb climate change. “It’s a concerted effort by Republicans to tear down Talarico,” Adams said. “Abbott doesn’t see Gina Hinojosa as an opponent, so that allows him to add to the arsenal that will be used to hold the Senate seat and protect down-ballot Republicans.” Talarico’s campaign did not comment on Abbott’s remarks. In the past, he’s predicted Republicans would try to distort his record. “They’re hoping Americans care more about culture wars than actual wars. More about pronouns than prices,” Talarico“Once again, Greg Abbott is trying to distract us using culture wars with one hand while he takes our money with the other,” she said in a statement. Gina Hinojosa, Democratic candidate for governor, talks during a Texas Together rally at Ridglea Theater on Friday, March 20, 2026, in Fort Worth.In 2018, the first midterms with Trump in the White House, Republicans lost 12 seats in the Texas House and two congressional districts, including District 32 in the Dallas area.He was running for reelection against former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez, who raised just over $1 million for her underdog campaign. Abbott ran a robust campaign and helped U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz win a Dave Carney, Abbott’s chief political strategist, said the governor’s campaign “feels responsible” for helping Texas legislative and congressional candidates win elections.“The Senate race is also important,” Carney said. “We’re going to do our best to turn out our coalition. It will be a bigger campaign than last time.” The winner of the Republican runoff between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton will face Talarico in November. Abbott’s campaign resources would help either candidate, particularly Paxton, who has struggled to raise campaign dollars at the pace of his rival. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sits down for an interview at the exhibit hall during Conservative Political Action Conference, on Friday, March 27, 2026 at Gaylord Texan Resort and Conference Center in Grapevine.Abbott’s efforts to keep Texas red are in concert with attempts by national Republicans to use the Lone Star State to help the GOP and Trump maintain control of the U.S. House and Senate. Launching early attacks on U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and Talarico as they competed for the Democratic Senate nomination. Since the Civil War, the party that controls the White House has held the House after midterm elections only three times — 1934, 1998 and 2002. FILE - In this Sept. 14, 2001 file photo, President George W. Bush embraces firefighter Bob Beckwith while standing in front of the collapsed World Trade Center buildings in New York as rescue efforts continue. The bullhorn Pres. Bush is holding is just one of the more than 40,000 artifacts to be stored in the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum. 04212013xBUSHLIBRARYspecialsectionIn 1934, the Great Depression was instrumental in Franklin D. Roosevelt holding the House. The failed impeachment attempt against Bill Clinton helped him in 1998, and George W. Bush and Republicans were strong after the Sept. 11 attacks. Democrats hope Trump’s low approval ratings in polls will prevent him from bucking history, but Abbott is doing all he can to make it a banner year for the GOP.The Howard University graduate and Chicago native has covered four presidential campaigns and written extensively about local, state and national politics. Before The News, he was a reporter at The Kansas City Star and The Chicago Defender. You can catch Gromer every Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on NBC 5's Lone Star Politics.Libraries, roads and City Hall: Here’s what came up in Dallas’ budget town halls
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