Before we can have a presidential election, we need to have official Party nominees. And while we can expect everyone to rally behind their Party’s eventual final candidate, this won’t make the path to the nomination any smoother.
Currently, the Republican nomination is technically up for grabs. We have a handful of high-profile figures who have expressed their interest in running – or who have been pointed as good candidates by their fellow politicians. And yet, with less than 10 months to go until the primaries kick off, some of these candidates are struggling to make themselves stand out.
Today, we’ll take a closer look at one of the strongest candidates, Texan governor Greg Abbott. Despite his position as a “proven winner”, he’s not an official candidate yet. But there’s still time!
Who is Greg Abbott?
Gregory Abbott grew up in Wichita Falls, Texas, nurtured by a deeply Christian professional family. He was a distinguished student from very early on: a member of the National Honor Society, he was voted “most likely to succeed” by his classmates in Duncanville High School.
After completing a Business degree from the University of Texas at Austin, he enrolled at the Vanderbilt University Law School. Then, he entered the legal profession as a private practitioner before taking the leap into public service.
At the same time, he began nurturing connections in the local Young Republican circles. He was first elected as a state trial judge in 1996, and then to the Texas Supreme Court. Following a long stint as the State’s Attorney General, he first ran for Governor in 2014.
His resounding victory against Democrat Wendy Davis in 2014 was compounded by further hits against Lupe Valdez in 2018, and Beto O’Rourke in 2022.
Who are Abbott’s Supporters?
Both as a law practitioner and a politician, Greg Abbott has established himself as a defender of Christian values and libertarianism. He is a practicing Catholic who frequently cites his own spiritual background as one of the beacons that guide his political positions.
His bold opinions and strong stances on abortion, healthcare reform, and immigration have earned him a reputation as a sincere conservative who is willing to “walk the talk.” So far, he has openly supported:
- The Blue Lives Matter movement, a conservative grassroots response to the BLM riots
- The right to “school choice,” especially for parents who seek religious-based education for their children
- Restrictions on adoption for same-sex families
- Fortifying the wall in the US-Mexico border
- Gun rights
These positions place him as a potential darling for many former Tea Party supporters, as well as a viable alternative for the now Trump-controlled “MAGA faction.”
Abbott’s Path to the Republican Nomination
Texas has long been a Republican stronghold, and many of his past governors have then moved on to the White House. High popularity ratings and a tight network of donors make Greg Abbott a political force to be reckoned with.
In addition, there is a long tradition of Texas Governors running – and winning – the presidency. And yet, Gov. Abbott appears in no rush to commit his participation. Quite on the contrary, he has continued to back Donald Trump and publicly condemned his indictment. While he isn’t directly endorsing Trump’s presidential campaign, he appears happy to step back and remain away from the national spotlight.
On April 1st, 2023, an independent organization filed a federal campaign committee after Greg Abott’s presidential campaign. However, this turned out to be an April Fool’s joke, as the campaign organizers have no direct connection to Gov. Abbott.
Grassroots Pulse covers public policy and political issues aimed at engaging highly-active policy makers, donors, and grassroots leaders at the forefront of the political process in America today.
Image Credit: Photo by Gage Skidmore on Flickr Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)
