TEXAS — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Saturday made his 2022 reelection bid official, making the announcement during an appearance in McAllen.

What You Need To Know

  • Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Saturday announced he is officially seeking reelection. It would be his third term in office 

  • Abbott faces Republican primary challenges from several people, notably Don Huffines, a businessman and former state senator, and Allen West, a former Florida congressman and former state GOP chairman

  • If Abbott wins the March 1 primary, he will likely face Democratic challenger Beto O'Rourke 

  • The most recent poll from Quinnipiac University showed Abbott with a double-digit lead over O'Rourke

He’s seeking a third term.

“Proud to officially announce I’m running for re-election to continue serving as Governor of the Lone Star State. Together, we will secure the future of Texas. Thank you, Hidalgo County!” Abbott later tweeted.

Abbott, who’s been governor since 2015, previously served as a justice of the Texas Supreme Court from 1996-2001 and as Texas attorney general from 2002-2015. He'll face primary challenges from several Republicans, two of whom are prominent.

Don Huffines is a former state senator from Dallas who has sharply criticized Abbott’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and has taken credit for nudging the governor further to the right on issues including coronavirus and border security.

While he remains a long shot, Huffines is a wealthy business owner with the ability to self-finance.

Abbott also faces a challenge from former Florida congressman and former Texas GOP Chairman Allen West.

West, regarded as a firebrand tea party Republican, is also a retired Army lieutenant colonel. He moved to Texas several years ago and took over the state party during the summer of 2020 after unseating incumbent James Dickey.

West, appearing in Dallas this past summer, delivered remarks to a conference the organizers of which have ties to the QAnon conspiracy movement.

“I think that I have a right to free speech and freedom of expression. The event was called ‘For God and Country’ and that is something I have dedicated my life to,” he said. “I don’t have any ties to conspiracies or whatever. My only tie is to the constitution and that’s what I took an oath to.”

Other Republican primary challengers include Paul Belew, Daniel Harrison, Kandy Kaye Horn, Rick Perry – who is not the former governor of Texas – and Chad Prather.

Assuming Abbott is able to gain the nomination on March 1, he’ll likely face Democrat and former Texas congressman Beto O’Rourke for office.

While Abbott has been criticized for his handling of the February winter storm that left millions of Texans without power and at least 246 people dead, recent polling shows he retains a sizeable edge.

The results of a poll published by Quinnipiac University on Dec. 8, 2021, show Abbott with a double-digit lead over O’Rourke, at 59-37%.

Republicans, according to the poll, back Abbott 90-5%, Independents back him 47-37%, and Democrats back O’Rourke 87-6%.

The general election is Nov. 8, 2022.