Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) intends to use his hefty fundraising haul from 2023 to target state House Republicans who ended a yearlong fight over school vouchers.
The Abbott campaign announced the Republican governor raised $19 million in the final half of 2023 and has $38 million in cash on hand, the Texas Tribune reported Wednesday. He brought in $13 million to Texans for Greg Abbott, his main political action committee, and $6 million into another account.
“With the primary elections just around the corner, Governor Abbott has the resources needed to back strong conservative candidates who support his bold agenda to keep Texas the greatest state in the nation, including expanding school choice for all Texas families and students,” Abbott campaign manager Kim Snyder said in a statement, per the Tribune.
Abbott failed to pass a controversial plan through the Texas legislature that included taxpayer subsidies for students to attend private school. Last November, 21 Republicans joined Democrats in voting against his voucher program in a massive education funding bill following two special sessions dedicated to the topic.
Abbott rolled out endorsements of the state Republicans running for reelection in the House who supported his voucher program, leaving out the members who voted against the provision. Some Republican candidates competing against state representatives who broke ties with Abbott have made the governor’s endorsement list.
Texas’s top Republican started his campaign against those House members last year when Abbott endorsed Hillary Hickland for state Rep. Hugh Shine’s seat. Abbott said Hickland, an activist mother and Belton resident, would have backed the schooling bill, unlike Shine. He also endorsed Republican Trey Wharton, who is running to replace state Rep. Kyle Kacal, who voted against the school voucher provision. Kacal announced at the end of November that he would not seek reelection.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Matt Rinaldi, chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, said in a statement to the Washington Examiner, “Governor Abbott has been very vocal about his support for school choice. Despite multiple polls showing strong support for school choice across all demographics, some Republicans haven’t gotten the message and chose to poke the bull. Now they will get the horns.”
The Washington Examiner reached out to Abbott, Shine, and Kacal for comment.
