Abbott Endorses Candidate Who Called
Him Spineless and Dubbed Trump Loser

Capitol Inside
December 5, 2023

Governor Greg Abbott obsession with school vouchers intensified on Tuesday when he endorsed a Texas House candidate who'd called him spineless and branded Donald Trump as a loser who'd fumbled the 2020 election away to Democratic President Joe Biden.

Abbott pitched his support in an email to Brent Money of Greenville in a fight for the House District 2 seat in a special election runoff that the governor set for January 30. Money is dueling Ben Wheeler Republican Jill Dutton for the post that Bryan Slaton won in the last two elections before he was expelled during the spring from the Legislature's lower chamber.

The governor's intervention in HD 2 in overtime is whiskey in the face of GOP House Speaker Dade Phelan whose leadership team has been vigorously supporting Dutton. Phelan has a full plate for 2024 with a record 43 incumbent House Republicans facing primary opposition including 40 who voted for Attorney General Ken Paxton's impeachment in the regular session.

The speaker promised to have the backs of colleagues who backed the unsuccessful attempt to oust the AG. Phelan and other GOP representatives who are under attack have been hoping that a Dutton victory would allay fears about a fatal impeachment backlash in the primary election about five weeks after the special HD 2 runoff vote. Paxton has been backing Money since the special race materialized with the historic expulsion in the spring.

But Abbott has shown no signs of empathy or concern for either Phelan or Paxton with the endorsements that he's dished out in the past few weeks. Abbott lauded Money for views on standard Texas Republican talking-point issues such as border security, property taxes and the economy.

“Brent Money is a champion for Texas families who will help me deliver conservative results in Austin,” Abbott said. “As a local leader and business owner, Brent understands the importance of fostering economic policies that will keep Texas the economic engine of the nation. I can count on Brent to fight for a secure border, cut property taxes, and empower parents to choose the best education for their child. I urge all Texans across House District 2 to join me this January in supporting Brent Money for State Representative.”

There doesn't appear to be any difference between the runoff contenders in HD 2 on any of the topics that Abbott cited in the Money pitch despite perceptions that he's trying to fuel about Dutton being soft on vouchers. But the governor's singular focus has been on school choice after failed attempts to pass education savings accounts in the regular session and a fourth special session that ended on Tuesday in the House.

Abbott rallied behind Money despite terrible things that the House hopeful had said about him in the past. Money backed former Texas Senate Republican Don Huffines in the primary election for governor in 2022 when Abbott won a third term.

Money sought to build Florida Governor Ron DeSantis up at Abbott's expense early last year when the Texan's name was being floated as a potential presidential contender in 2024.

"Abbott isn't in the same league with DeSantis at all," Money said in a tweet. "He's weak and spineless. Doesn't do anything without a poll. Leave him out of this."

The criticism could have come across as mocking for a governor who's been paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair since a jogging accident as a young man.

Abbott hand-delivered an endorsement to Trump last month at an event near the border. Money - the candidate who Abbott endorsed today - made a compelling case earlier this year on why Republicans would be making a major mistake if they nominated Trump for the White House next year.

“Trump lost in 2020 as an incumbent," Money said in February on the site now known as X. "How in the world will he win in 2024, even in the unlikely event that Republicans nominate him again?”

Money slammed the former president in another post in April. "Trump has been tested and lost," Money argued. "Not just lost the election, he lost control of his administration before that. Before the election, Trump empowered and platformed Fauci to shut down businesses and schools and there were violent riots across the country. He’s an ineffective loser."

more to come ...

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