Senator Charles Perry and Lubbock representative Carl Tepper joined him at the private event. Abbott opened by touting millions of new jobs and safer communities since voters elected him governor. Then he turned to his opponent, Gina Hinojosa, whom he mentioned several times.
He claimed Hinojosa opposes putting human traffickers behind bars, doesn't think his border policy fits Texas, and wants to raise property taxes. Asked afterward to elaborate on the tax claim, Abbott said his team cited the bills and found she voted over 40 times for higher property taxes. He also said she voted for an income tax in Texas. "The receipts are there," he said.
Property taxes ran through the whole speech, and Abbott put a specific rule on the table. He said voters should get a say on any property tax increase, with a two-thirds margin required to pass it. He closed by saying the next generation needs to stay top of mind in keeping Texas affordable.
"We want huge turnout among voters in Lubbock," Abbott said, adding that Lubbock's economy matters to the entire state.