TEXAS -- Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is dismissing Democrats' hopes of making gains this midterm election cycle. He spoke Friday in Austin at a gathering of conservatives hosted by blogger Erick Erickson.

When asked whether a blue wave was coming to the Lone Star State, he quickly reminded the crowd about 2014.

“I saw this story taking place so many times four years ago with Wendy Davis on the opposite side,” Abbott said. “And when the final score was posted, I beat Wendy Davis by more than 20 points. Texas is going to stay red."

However, recent polls have shown some races may be closer than incumbent Republicans want to believe.

Two polls released this week put Democratic Rep. Beto O'Rourke within single digits of incumbent Republican Sen. Ted Cruz.

Reporters James Barragan of the Dallas Morning News and Will Weissert of the Associated Press join our reporter roundtable tonight at 7 to discuss the U.S. Senate and gubernatorial races.

Cruz releases first TV ads

Cruz is ramping up his re-election campaign by releasing his first TV ads. One highlights his work on the state's recovery from Hurricane Harvey. It's airing in Beaumont and his team touted the ad in a press release. Two others out Friday attack Cruz’s challenger, Beto O’Rourke.

One contrasts Cruz's work on unemployment drug testing with O'Rourke's 2009 comments about the War on Drugs. The other calls O’Rourke “extreme” and points to comments he’s made about his support for impeaching President Donald Trump. We're fact-checking the claims tonight at 7 with Gardner Selby of PolitiFact Texas.

Flood Insurance Debate

As Texans know all too well, floods cause more damage in the United States than any other natural disaster year after year.

Anticipating a heavy hurricane season, Congress is working to ensure homeowners are able to recover when the worst weather hits.

However there are concerns the federal insurance program that is decades old is not sustainable. The National Flood Insurance Program is pretty much the only source of flood insurance for more than five million households in the U.S. The program grants up to $250,000 in coverage. Our Washington Bureau Reporter Margaret Chadbourn explains what alternative lawmakers are discussing.

Hear more about these stories and others on Capital Tonight at 7 p.m. on Spectrum News.