Gov. Greg Abbott endorsed state House Rep. Ellen Troxclair Friday in her bid for reelection, telling an overflow crowd he needs her support to continue his work to protect the Texas border.
Making a personal stop in Boerne, Abbott also said the bustling state economy may allow Texas to enter the next legislative session with another $20 billion budget surplus.
“We need your help to return Ellen to Austin, so she can help me secure our borders,” Abbott said to large applause at The Bevy Hotel.
Troxclair, R-Austin and representing House District 19, is seeking a second term.
Abbott paid the visit after hosting Republican governors earlier this week at the border, where they got a firsthand look at the work being done there by the Texas National Guard and U.S. Border Patrol.
Troxclair in the March 5 GOP primary is facing former House Rep. Kyle Biedermann, who represented District 73 from 2017-2023, and Manny Campos, a small-business owner in Marble Falls.
Abbott, a Republican, attacked what he called President Joe Biden’s “open-border policy,” adding that thousands of migrants and refugees are illegally crossing into Texas on a regular basis.
“Four years ago, we had the lowest number of border crossings in 45 years because President Donald Trump put into place four policies — remain in Mexico, Title 42, end ‘catch-and-release' and build a border wall,” Abbott said.
“Joe Biden came into office and eliminated all of those policies and said, ‘We have an open border,’” the governor said.
“It must be stopped,” Abbott told the crowd. “Joe Biden was lying to the American public when he was telling them he didn’t have the tools he needed ... He has every tool he needs right now.”
Troxclair said she is proud to represent the people of District 19 and wants to continue the work she started when she took office in 2022.
“I ran to be your representative because I saw our country was headed off a cliff,” she said. “I’m a mother of three young children. I’m a small-business owner. I work hard every day.”
She also praised Abbott’s leadership.
“I want to tell you governor, thank you for taking the burden from all of us, and for being the leader we needed at the exact right time,” she said. “Thank you for doing the work of every single American, to protect our families, keep our children safe and keep our country free. It's such an honor to serve alongside you.”
Abbott told the crowd Texas ranks No. 1 in income growth, in economic development, and first in energy production in the country. He said Texas has the eighth-largest economy in the world.
In addition, the state has the largest budget surplus of any U.S. state last year.
“Ellen and I will work together to use that money to return it to you again, with another giant property tax cut,” Abbott said.
Comment
Comments