Abbott Rallies Republicans in Dallas as He Seeks Fourth Term

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott spoke to Republicans in Dallas in early September 2026, addressing an audience that included attendees at what was described as the first Republican Midterm Convention held at the American Airlines Center. Abbott is running for a fourth term as governor, a bid that would make him the longest-serving governor in Texas history if successful. He faces Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa in the general election. During his remarks, Abbott touted legislation he has signed as governor, including laws restricting land purchases by China, Russia and Iran, and measures related to voter identification requirements. He characterized the midterm elections as a choice between what he called "common sense" and the opposing party's approach, according to accounts of the speech. Polling on the race has varied by source, with some reports describing the contest as roughly tied and others showing Abbott leading by three to ten points. The outcome of the November election remains undetermined, and the discrepancy in polling figures between reports has not been reconciled. Some additional legislative claims attributed to Abbott's speech, including references to laws on Sharia law, sanctuary cities, and state income tax, were reported by only a single source and could not be independently corroborated.