No less than seven challengers are vying to defeat Abbott in Tuesday's GOP primary. Perhaps the two with the best chance are businessman Don Huffines and former state GOP chairman and former Florida congressman Allen West.
Cathie Adams is a former chairman of the Republican Party of Texas. "I have been absolutely impressed with both Allen West and with Don Huffines," says Adams, "but I don't think that we're going to see either man make it into a runoff."
A recent Emerson College Polling report shows the incumbent with a clear, insurmountable lead – which Adams admits saddens her. She says GOP voters have apparently forgotten what Abbott did during the height of the pandemic.
"I really am seeing that in the polls – and I'm greatly saddened," she tells AFN. "And the only thing I can think [behind it] is the time lapse between all those draconian ideals that were imposed upon us [by Abbott].
"And since that time, the governor has come out and said No more masks! Well, you [Abbott] were the one who mandated them and shut down the small businesses – and people are forgetting already."
Former Congressman Beto O'Rourke, adds Adams, should have no trouble against four others vying for the Texas Democratic gubernatorial nomination. Emerson College Polling found that in a hypothetical matchup between Abbott and O'Rourke, the incumbent Republican governor would win by seven points (52% to 45%).
