Gov. Abbott dismisses GOP worries about Texas, says voters will be 'rushing to vote for Ken Paxton'

With just 72 days to go until November's midterm elections, some Republicans find themselves worried about losing Texas -- a state President Donald Trump won by nearly 14 percentage points in 2024. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is not one of them.

Abbott sat down with ABC News' "This Week" co-anchor Jonathan Karl on Friday at the Texas governor's mansion in Austin, Texas, and made clear he believes Texas voters will see this election as a contrast between Democrats and Republicans.

"What matters in elections is not in August, what matters in elections is November," Abbott said. "There's a choice at the ballot box. And when those voters go in, they're going to choose between common sense that's offered by Republicans versus the crazy that's offered by the Democrats."

Abbott emphasizes that contrast several times throughout the interview -- including when asked about the president's job performance, gas prices, the Texas Senate race and even who should lead the Republican Party after Trump.

The Texas governor's remarks come as a Texas Pulse poll conducted in late July found that the GOP's decades-long grip on the state of Texas could be at risk. In the poll of the Senate race, Democrat and state Rep. James Talarico led Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton by four points: 47% to 43%. In that same poll, Abbott -- who is running for a fourth term as governor -- led his Democratic challenger, State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, by one point, 46% to 45%.

Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican who has been in competitive races himself, told Abbott on a radio show in July that Talarico has "a real chance" to win.

Despite polls suggesting Abbott could be in a tight race, Abbott never once mentioned his Democratic opponent during the interview, while he mentioned Talarico's name several times.

Abbott emphasized his belief that voters will ultimately decide to vote for Paxton after learning more about Talarico's record, which he called "crazy."

"[Paxton] was in a three-month-long runoff that demanded capital, it demanded campaigning, demanded his attention, and so he's just now catching up in the campaign process with Talarico," Abbott said. "When voters really learn about the Talarico record, they're gonna be rushing to vote for Ken Paxton."

Talarico has repeatedly attacked Paxton for his record, which includes being impeached by the GOP-led Texas House in 2023. Paxton was acquitted by the Texas Senate.

Referendum on Trump?

Still, midterm elections are typically seen as a referendum on the president. Trump's approval rating -- which reached a record low of 35% in a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll -- could drag down Republicans even in a state like Texas.

Karl asked Abbott about Trump's record on bringing down prices -- a top issue for voters in the midterms -- especially amid the war with Iran and elevated fuel costs.

Abbott said in a post on X in early July that gas prices in Texas would drop below $2 per gallon by the end of the summer. Gas prices have not been below $2 in Texas since 2021, during the COVID pandemic, and are roughly the same since Abbott's post -- currently averaging over $3.60 per gallon, according to GasBuddy.

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"When voters go vote in November, they will vote on contrast and make a choice about do they want the Republican or the Democrat candidate," Abbott said. "The answer to that is far more complex than just one price point about oil."

Abbott said he still expects gas prices to drop below $2 per gallon before the end of this summer, citing reduced hostilities between the U.S. and Iran. Gas prices have remained high because minimal traffic is moving through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil supply, and Iran has reiterated it will not open the strait unless the U.S. agrees to its demands.

But Abbott still said he does not buy that voters will head to the polls with Trump on their minds.

"What I'm hearing on the campaign trail, people are not talking to me about Trump. We're talking about the contrast that exists between Republicans and Democrats in Texas," Abbott said.

Abbott's data center demands

As artificial intelligence data centers pop up all over the U.S., Texas -- already home to more than 300 data centers, the second most in the country -- has at least 200 more planned projects, an ABC News analysis found.

Both polls and public outrage at town halls show a country increasingly opposed to data centers in local communities. A July Fox News poll found that 70% of registered voters oppose a data center being built in their area.

Abbott said the outrage in Texas stems from the speed of the data center boom and the lack of input from local communities.

"Gaining the support of people in local communities is essential," Abbott said. "That's why I am now coming in as governor saying listen, if you're a data center and you want to operate in Texas, you have to first get the approval of those in local communities."

Abbott was governor during the rapid buildout of data centers in Texas, something his opponent has attacked him for. Hinojosa accused Abbott of "flip-flopping on data centers for political points."

But as opposition grows, especially in rural areas, Abbott is one of several Republicans taking a tougher stance.

Abbott is now promoting executive action he has taken as governor to ensure data centers comply with certain requirements, including supplying their own power, reducing the cost of electricity and not building near neighborhoods. Abbott even paused new data center projects in Texas to ensure data center compliance.

Trump criticized Abbott's pause, calling it a "mistake." Abbott brushed off Trump's comment, saying Texas is in a unique situation because it has its own power grid.

"We have created a structure that's going to do more than any state to solve the problem," Abbott said.