Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has a 15-point edge over his main Democratic rival, former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas), according to a new Quinnipiac University poll, a staggering lead that underscores the challenges ahead for Democrats in the state next year.
In a hypothetical head-to-head matchup, Abbott leads O’Rourke 52 percent to 37 percent. He also has stronger support among voters from his own party. Ninety percent of Republicans say they back Abbott, while 87 percent of Democrats support O’Rourke in the race.
O’Rourke, who ran a close Senate campaign against Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in 2018 before mounting a bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, jumped into the gubernatorial contest last month.
While he’s a proven fundraiser and aggressive campaigner, ousting Abbott next year is likely to be an uphill battle. Democrats are facing historical headwinds nationally in 2022, given that midterm elections are typically seen as referendums on the party in power in Washington.
But the Quinnipiac poll also showed O’Rourke’s favorability underwater among Texas voters. Thirty-s… (Read more)
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