Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has won a second term after an uneventful race against Democratic challenger Lupe Valdez.
Abbott’s re-election was seldom in doubt. Republicans have won every governor’s race in Texas since 1994, starting with George W. Bush and continuing with Rick Perry and now Abbott.
Valdez is a former sheriff in Dallas who would have been Texas’ first openly gay, Hispanic governor. But she struggled to raise money and support, and her race was overshadowed in Texas by Democrat Beto O’Rourke’s high-profile run for Senate.
The 60-year-old Abbott is the nation’s only governor who uses a wheelchair. He was paralyzed from the waist down after a tree fell on him as a young law student.
Abbott said in statement he is “deeply honored” to continue serving as governor and added: “with the election behind us, it is time for us to work side by side to build a brighter future for every person in our state.”