AUSTIN, Texas — Gov. Greg Abbott is more convinced than ever he’s going to pass his priority private school voucher plan next year. That’s because the primary election last month saw several anti-voucher Republican incumbents lose to pro-voucher challengers.

What You Need To Know

  • Gov. Greg Abbott is engaged in a primary runoff campaign tour trying to push support for private school vouchers over the finish line

  • Abbott also said he wants to add $6 billion more to public education, include pay raises for teachers and eliminate the STAAR test and replace it with a different accountability measure

  • When asked whether he was adding to growing division in the Texas GOP after campaigning against a number of House GOP incumbents who essentially voted with him on everything aside from vouchers, Abbott said he was representing the constituents in the districts where he supported an opponent

  • On being a possible vice presidential pick for Donald Trump as he seeks to be president again, Abbott said he's focused on Texas and plans to stay in Texas

Now, the Texas House is on the verge of a pro-voucher majority — potentially overcoming the policy’s last legislative roadblock. Abbott is engaged in a primary runoff campaign tour trying to push support over the finish line.

"In order for school choice to pass, we're going to need to win some of these runoff races," Gov. Abbott said in an interview on Capital Tonight Tuesday. "I do feel confident, however, that we will win enough of these runoff races that we will have the votes necessary to pass school choice in the next session."

Gov. Abbott also said he wants to add $6 billion more to public education, include pay raises for teachers and eliminate the STAAR test and replace it with a different accountability measure. During the regular legislative session last year, lawmakers failed to pass a number of policies to support teachers amid a standoff over school vouchers. That continued into special sessions focused on vouchers. 

When asked whether he was adding to growing division in the Texas GOP after campaigning against a number of House GOP incumbents who essentially voted with him on everything aside from vouchers, Abbott said he was representing the constituents in the districts where he supported an opponent. He pointed to a primary ballot proposition that asked voters whether they support school choice. 

"In these House districts in which I've been campaigning, the voters themselves voted something like 85 to 90% in favor of school choice," Abbott said. 

Primary elections historically have low turnout, like this year's, and are largely decided by voters who are less moderate and more engaged in partisan politics. 

On being a possible vice presidential pick for Donald Trump as he seeks to be president again, Abbott said he's focused on Texas and plans to stay in Texas. 

Click the video link above to watch our full interview with Gov. Abbott, including his take on not getting involved in Speaker Dade Phelan's reelection campaign.