Greg Abbott Leads by 1 Point in New Texas Governor Race Poll - newsweek.com

Abbott is seeking a fourth term in a state that has not elected a Democratic governor since Ann Richards won in 1990. Texas voters have also backed the Republican presidential nominee in every election since 1980, a streak that has held through multiple Democratic attempts to crack the state's reliably red statewide map.

For people here in Lubbock, which sits deep in one of the most reliably conservative regions of Texas, a competitive governor's race is not something most folks have seen in their lifetime. The South Plains has consistently delivered lopsided Republican margins in statewide contests, and a 1-point race at the top of the ticket would be a significant shift from that pattern. Democrats argue that President Donald Trump's national approval rating is creating an opening in conservative-leaning states, and Texas is near the top of their target list.