Republican Greg Abbott has won the Texas governor's race, Reuters/Ipsos projected on Tuesday, defeating Democrat Wendy Davis, a state senator who drew national attention last year when she filibustered a proposal to limit abortion rights.
Abbott, 56, the Texas attorney general, campaigned on tightening security along the border with Mexico and being a more effective manager of the state's $1.4 trillion-a-year economy. He will replace Republican Rick Perry, the longest-serving governor in the state's history, who is retiring and is considered a potential 2016 presidential candidate.
"Thank you Texas for electing me Governor," Abbott wrote on his Twitter feed. "With honor and dignity I will fight for you and your future. God Bless Texas."
Texas Republicans are poised to sweep all statewide offices in commanding fashion, extending years of futility for Democrats, who last won the Texas governor's race in 1990 when Ann Richards was elected to the post.
Davis gained national attention last year when she donned pink running shoes and spoke for 10 hours in a filibuster against new abortion restrictions.
Davis, who went from a single mother in a trailer park to a Harvard Law School graduate, portrayed Abbott as part of a 'good old boys' network more interested in enriching one another than helping voters.
© 2024 Thomson/Reuters. All rights reserved.