Abbott challenger accuses Texas governor of being Republican in name only
https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch...ublican-in-name
By Mychael Schnell - 07/11/21 04:33 PM EDT


Former state Sen. Don Huffines (R), who is waging a bid against Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) for the party’s gubernatorial nomination, took on the sitting governor on Sunday, calling him a Republican in name only, commonly referred to as “RINO.”

“We don't have a Donald Trump as governor, we don't have a Ron DeSantis as governor, we don't have a William B. Travis as governor. Unfortunately we've got a career politician that's a political windsock, a RINO,” Huffines said of Abbott, at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), according to Newsweek.

Huffines, who represented a Dallas-based state Senate district for four years until 2019, launched a primary bid against Abbott in May.

At CPAC, Huffines critiqued Abbott for his handling of the surge in border crossings, asking the crowd “why isn’t the border secure?” after years of leadership under Abbott.

“Greg Abbott's been governor for six years. He could have secured the border six years ago or six months ago,” Abbott said.

Huffines also zeroed in on Abbott’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, attacking him for his decision to impose restrictions on the state’s economy.

“He put 3 million Texans on unemployment and dependent on the government in one day. He closed our churches on the holiest week of the year, Easter," Huffines said.-- excerpt, rest at link above --