Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and Democratic challenger Gina Hinojosa are in a tight race for Texas governor in the November midterm election. Libertarian Pat Dixon is also running. Abbott is serving his third term as governor. Hinojosa has represented Texas's 49th district in the Texas House for five two-year terms.
Polls have shown the two trading leads, though most results were within the margin of error. A September NBC 5 Dallas/Telemundo Station Group Texas Voter Poll had Abbott at 48% and Hinojosa at 41% among likely voters, with 8% undecided. A later University of Texas Texas Politics Project poll had Hinojosa at 49% and Abbott at 48%.
Abbott said his data showed he was making progress. He has called Hinojosa one of the most liberal politicians in the state and said she is soft on crime and illegal immigration. Hinojosa said she has accepted four invitations to debate, and that Abbott has declined all four.