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'''Gregory Wayne "Greg" Abbott''' (born November 13, 1957<ref name="Directory"/>) is the increasingly moderate [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[governor]] of [[Texas]], a position which he has held since January 2015. Previously, he was an associate justice of the Texas Supreme Court from 1995 to 2001 and the [[attorney general]] of his state from 2002 to 2015.  

'''Gregory Wayne "Greg" Abbott''' (born November 13, 1957<ref name="Directory"/>) is the increasingly moderate [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[governor]] of [[Texas]], a position which he has held since January 2015. Previously, he was an associate justice of the Texas Supreme Court from 1995 to 2001 and the [[attorney general]] of his state from 2002 to 2015.  

Formerly conservative, Abbott is largely under the influence of billionaire, corporate lobbyist donors to his campaign, in a state that has no campaign contribution limits. The [[Koch brothers]] network, to whom Abbott has made presentations and from whom he has received large contributions, induced Abbott to push as a top priority the [[Convention of States]] resolution in 2017 and to shy away from meaningful socially conservative legislation during his tenure. In 2019, the Texas legislature did not enact any significant conservative bills, and instead, Governor Abbott pushed unsuccessfully for an increase in the sales tax and advocated for banning businesses from asking for the criminal histories of potential employees.<ref>Horowitz, Daniel (August 20, 2019). [https://www.conservativereview.com/news/needs-leftists-gop-texas-gov-greg-abbott-endorses-radical-ban-box-pro-criminal-mandate-employers/ Who needs leftists? GOP Texas Gov. Greg Abbott endorses radical “ban the box” pro-criminal mandate on employers]. ''Conservative Review''. Retrieved August 20, 2019.</ref>

Formerly [[conservative]], Abbott is largely under the influence of billionaire, corporate lobbyist donors to his campaign, in a state that has no campaign contribution limits. The [[Koch brothers]] network, to whom Abbott has made presentations and from whom he has received large contributions, induced Abbott to push as a top priority the [[Convention of States]] resolution in 2017 and to shy away from meaningful socially conservative legislation during his tenure. In 2019, the Texas legislature did not enact any significant conservative bills, and instead, Governor Abbott pushed unsuccessfully for an increase in the sales tax and advocated for banning businesses from asking for the criminal histories of potential employees.<ref>Horowitz, Daniel (August 20, 2019). [https://www.conservativereview.com/news/needs-leftists-gop-texas-gov-greg-abbott-endorses-radical-ban-box-pro-criminal-mandate-employers/ Who needs leftists? GOP Texas Gov. Greg Abbott endorses radical “ban the box” pro-criminal mandate on employers]. ''Conservative Review''. Retrieved August 20, 2019.</ref>

Abbott was a runaway winner for a third term in the Republican primary election held on March 1, 2022. With 1,270,401 votes (66.4 percent), Abbott turned back six opponents. The runners-up were two strong conservatives, former [[Florida]] [[U.S. Representative]] [[Allen West]], with 12.3 percent, and the well-financed former state Senator [[Don Huffines]] of [[Dallas]], who finished third with 12 percent of the primary ballots cast. In the general election on November 8, Abbott will face off against a determined bid by the Democrat former U.S. Representative [[Beto O'Rourke]] of [[El Paso]], who ran a strong but losing race in 2018 against Republican U.S. Senator [[Ted Cruz]]. Though he uses the [[Spanish]] nickname "Beto," O'Rourke is of [[Ireland|Irish]] descent.

Abbott was a runaway winner for a third term in the Republican primary election held on March 1, 2022. With 1,270,401 votes (66.4 percent), Abbott turned back six opponents. The runners-up were two strong conservatives, former [[Florida]] [[U.S. Representative]] and former Texas state Republican chairman [[Allen West]], with 12.3 percent, and the well-financed former state Senator [[Don Huffines]] of [[Dallas]], who finished third with 12 percent of the primary ballots cast. In the general election on November 8, Abbott will face off against a determined bid by the Democrat former U.S. Representative [[Beto O'Rourke]] of [[El Paso]], who ran a strong but losing race in 2018 against Republican U.S. Senator [[Ted Cruz]]. Though he uses the [[Spanish]] nickname "Beto," O'Rourke is of [[Ireland|Irish]] descent.

Abbott ran 310,463 votes ahead of O'Rourke in their respective primaries. The total Republican gubernatorial turnout was 1,937,543 votes compared to the Democrats' 1,057,637, a difference of 879,906 votes in favor of the GOP. O'Rourke, meanwhile, polled 959,938 votes (91 percent) in his primary contest.

Abbott ran 310,463 votes ahead of O'Rourke in their respective primaries. The total Republican gubernatorial turnout was 1,937,543 votes compared to the Democrats' 1,057,637, a difference of 879,906 votes in favor of the GOP. O'Rourke, meanwhile, polled 959,938 votes (91 percent) in his primary contest.