Abbott to Spend $25M in Bold Bid to Flip Harris County Red

Gov. Greg Abbott is aiming to make a major push in Harris County as he seeks a fourth term as Texas governor, planning to spend $25 million in the Democratic-leaning region, according to the Houston Chronicle.

The campaign strategy focuses on state House races, emphasizing crime, bail restrictions, and property taxes.

The governor has recruited Republican candidates for every district in the county, including areas where the GOP has historically been absent, and has hired a local consultant to coordinate efforts.

“Governor Abbott is going on the offensive in Harris County, a key battleground for the state,” said campaign press secretary Eduardo Leal. “Governor Abbott’s mission is clear: to keep Texas affordable, safe and prosperous.”

Abbott, who has not won the county since 2014, plans to spend more than a quarter of his $90 million campaign fund in Harris County. Dave Carney, a longtime adviser to the governor, emphasized the broad scope of the effort: “The effort is county-wide to impact every race. We plan to compete for every voter.”

GOP Gains in Harris County

Trump’s share of the vote increased from 42% in 2016 to 46% in 2024, and Republicans captured 10 judicial seats last year, largely by fielding candidates in previously uncontested races. Abbott hopes to replicate that approach in state House contests, particularly in seven districts long held by Democrats, including Rep. Gene Wu.

Wu described the governor’s campaign as politically motivated. “My focus will be to defeat Republicans and Donald Trump – not just in Texas but around this country,” he said.

New Republican candidates, including Robert McKenzie and Amanda LaBrie, have entered the races, with LaBrie noting that Abbott personally encouraged her candidacy.

Democrats remain critical of the strategy, with Rep. Penny Morales Shaw comparing it to Abbott’s 2023 campaign against Republicans who opposed his school voucher plan, calling it “buying elections…instead of focusing on what everyday Texans need for a good quality of life.”