TEXAS — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s endorsements for public office have historically helped hopeful candidates, but this election cycle might prove otherwise.
Abbott quickly endorsed Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock in the Republican primary for the full-time position. Hancock, a former state senator, took over the duties last July after then-Comptroller Glen Hegar left office. In the weeks leading up to Election Day, Hancock has been campaigning with Abbott, however, there are other candidates in the race that might not align as much with Abbott as Hancock does.
“A Comptroller with an agenda that doesn’t align with the agenda of state leadership can be a real pain in their side. And I think that’s part of the concern, even though this is really just about Republicans choosing Republicans,” said Joshua Blank, the research director of the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin.
There is a crowded slate of Republicans running for comptroller and Abbott’s pick is polling in third place, 20 points behind the frontrunner: former state Sen. Don Huffines.
Along with the comptroller race, Abbott’s endorsee in the primary for agriculture commissioner is in a similar spot. The governor opted to not back incumbent Sid Miller and endorsed political newcomer Nate Sheets, the owner of a honey company. Sheets joined Abbott on a South Texas visit with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, however, he’s trailing behind Miller by 30 points, bringing Abbott’s influence into question.
“If he doesn’t win, I think he’s going to be wounded. If somebody like Sid Miller wins by double digits or more and doesn’t matter what happens, then all of that is gone. Gov. Abbott has a lot to lose,” said Anthony Holm, host of radio show “Politics with the Big Dogs.”
During the 2024 election cycle, Abbott threw his power behind candidates who supported his school voucher plan. Not all who he endorsed won, but his endorsements still helped secure the passage of his preferred policy. One Republican strategist describes his endorsements of Sheets and Hancock as carefully calculated.
“He doesn’t endorse people he doesn’t think can win. He views them as good candidates and people who would be good allies for him, but also that they have a really good chance of winning,” said Republican strategist Brendan Steinhauser.
Abbott’s involvement this cycle is focused on electability, but according to one pollster, primary election voters typically have their mind made up before endorsements.
“The reality is in these low turnout elections, the overall impact of an endorsement is necessarily limited because the voters who are already voting are the most engaged voters in the electorate. They’re the most likely to have an opinion about these candidates, and they’re probably the least likely to be swayed simply by someone’s endorsement,” said Blank.
Abbott’s endorsements will be tested during the early voting period from Feb. 17-27, and Election Day on March 3.