CBS News Originally Posted: July 18, 2017 Governor Greg Abbott launched his re-election campaign in San Antonio Friday, the same city he kicked-off his first campaign four years ago. He told the crowd, “To keep Texas the best state in the United States, I’m running for re-election for Governor of the great state of Texas.” . . . SMU Political Science Professor Matthew Wilson says Abbott is a sure bet for re-election. “He is as close to a lock as you can be. He’s had a very strong, largely uncontroversial tenure in office so far.” Wilson says it’s also difficult for Democrats to win statewide in Texas. But Democrat Jeffrey Payne of Dallas says he’s going to try.  . . . Wilson says the Texas [...]

Houston Public Media Originally Posted: July 18, 2017 Governor Greg Abbott kicked off his 2018 reelection campaign late last week. For the moment, he still largely has the field to himself. The Texas Democratic Party is having a difficult time recruiting an experienced candidate to run against him. Any Democrat who decides to challenge Abbott will face a steep climb. The governor has already built up a campaign war chest of nearly $41 million. “If I am, say, Julian Castro, and I’m wondering whether it’s time for me to run for governor and put my political reputation on the line, I might look closely at this race and say, ‘My prospects, even though I’m a well-known Democrat and I could raise a good bit of [...]