<\/p>\n
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott head outside to take photos with supporters at Clay\u2019s Restaurant in Houston on Monday, Oct. 19, 2026.<\/p>\n
Elizabeth Conley\/Houston Chronicle<\/p>\n
With his political future on the line, Gov. Greg Abbott issued his darkest prediction yet for what could happen if Republican voters don\u2019t start showing up in bigger numbers at the polls.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we lose Texas, there\u2019s no chance ever for the future of the United States,\u201d Abbott told conservative radio host Sean Hannity.<\/p>\n
Abbott\u2019s dire warning comes as he barnstorms through Texas, particularly in Republican strongholds, pleading with the GOP faithful to get to the polls. Voter turnout in blue areas like Houston, Dallas and San Antonio has been well ahead<\/a> of Republican areas, increasing the pressure on Abbott and other Republicans to amp up their message to their supporters to balance out the turnout.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cWhether you’re happy or not, we\u2019ve got to realize what\u2019s at stake here,\u201d said Abbott, who is battling Austin Democrat Gina Hinojosa in what polls show is the closest race of his career. \u201cAnd if anybody stays home and doesn\u2019t go vote, it’s going to put Texas at risk. It\u2019s going to put the United States at risk.\u201d<\/p>\n He and Hannity on Monday warned that a blue Texas would devastate the chances of Republicans winning future presidential elections.<\/p>\n \u201cIf Texas ever goes blue, they know they will have a stranglehold on the Electoral College and presidential elections,\u201d Hannity said of Democrats.<\/p>\n Abbott answered: \u201cYou\u2019re spot on.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n It takes 270 electoral college votes to win the White House. Texas has the second most votes with 40. If those numbers are added to solid blue states like California, New York and Illinois, it would force Republicans to win every single battleground state just to have a chance at victory.<\/p>\n But Abbott assured listeners that there are still more Republicans in Texas than Democrats, though the question is whether they get out to vote.<\/p>\n \u201cIf, however, they stay home, it\u2019ll be a very tough night on election night,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n