Abbott Demands Halt to Darby Ad
that Touted Support that's Expired
Capitol Inside
January 29, 2024
A veteran Texas House Republican received some valuable free publicity on Monday when Governor Greg Abbott's campaign called him out for deceptive advertising as a result of an antiquated endorsement that he'd been touting on his web site in a competitive re-election race.
Abbott outlined his grievances against State Rep. Drew Darby in a cease-and-desist letter that his campaign fired off on Friday. "Governor Abbott has made clear that he believes the voters of House District 72 deserve a true conservative like Stormy Bradley representing them," Abbott campaign manager Kim Snyder wrote. "That is why he endorsed her on December 7, 2023.”
Abbott's camp sought to inject some suspicion and intrigue into the feud with a vague hint of potential skullduggery on the San Angelo Republican's part. “It is unfortunate that you would misrepresent Governor Abbott’s position on your race on your website, which serves only to confuse voters about who the conservative candidate in the race actually is," Snyder said."Which begs the question, what other matters have you tried to confuse voters on?”
Abbott demanded that Darby quit claiming Abbott's endorsements in "campaign materials, including without limitation, your campaign web site, social media posts, and any paid media (such as television and radio)."
Darby pulled the outdated Abbott endorsement from his campaign site without fanfare. Darby also took down a recent endorsement that he'd scored from U.S. Rep. August Pfluger of San Angelo for his current fight with Bradley.
The voters with long memories in HD 72 may recall how Abbott praised Darby as a "faithful conservative voice" for a 2020 re-election campaign. "I encourage courage the people of West Texas to send him back to Austin so he can continue to defend the values that matter most to them," Abbott said in a plug for Darby in December 2019.
Darby piqued the governor's wrath in November when he helped kill a school choice plan in a bipartisan vote on Abbott's signature proposal in 2023. But Darby is not alone by any means on the Abbott revenge list for the March 5 primary election that includes Republicans who he'd vigorously supported in recent elections in State Reps. Steve Allison of San Antonio, Ernest Bailes of Shepherd, Travis Clardy of Nacogdoches and John Kuempel of Seguin.
Abbott pitched his support on Monday behind Alan Schoolcraft of McQueeney in House District 44 where he'd been an ardent Kuempel advocate up to now. The governor has endorsed challengers Janis Holt of Silsbee and Marc LaHood of San Antonio in districts that Bailes and Allison are trying to defend in round one.
Abbott has turned against GOP State Rep. Glenn Rogers of Graford as well - having switched his allegiance to challenger Mike Olcott of Aledo in House District 60 as retribution against the incumbent for opposition on vouchers. Abbott contributed almost $41,000 to Rogers campaign in House District 60 in 2020. Abbott backed Rogers in a primary runoff duel with Olcott in 2022.
Abbott gave Bradley is glowing review when she won his support last month. “Stormy Bradley is the only conservative in the race for House District 72 that will help me bring school choice across the finish line,” Abbott said in an email. “I know she will work tirelessly to empower parents to choose the best education option for their child; ensure Texas has the tools and resources it needs to continue to respond to President Biden’s disastrous open border policies; and put us on a path to eliminate property taxes so homeowners and small businesses can continue to thrive in our booming economy."
more to come ... |
