SAN ANTONIO (AP) – Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott launched his re-election bid Friday with no clear rival in sight, the money to likely outspend any eventual challenger and a new immigration crackdown that could test in 2018 support among Hispanic voters he aggressively courted four years ago.
Supporters cheered as Abbott lauded a new Texas ban on “sanctuary cities” while kicking off his campaign in San Antonio – which has joined Houston, Dallas and Austin in suing to block the law that empowers police to ask people during routine stops whether they’re in the U.S. legally. Police chiefs and sheriffs can also face jail themselves if they don’t comply with federal immigration detainers.
The bill known as SB4 has become the most polarizing – and arguably defining – moment for Abbott since easily winning office in 2014 and making inroads for the GOP with Hispanics in doing so. Beleaguered Texas Democrats, who haven’t won of statewide race since 1994, say voters in a state growing more Hispanic by the day won’t stand for what the party chairman called a “state-sponsored deportation force.”
But so far, there isn’t even a whiff from Democrats of who might run against Abbott, whose 20-point trouncing of Wendy Davis last time lingers as a stinging reality check for the party.
“It is irresponsible and reckless to release known criminals back onto the streets,” Abbott said of SB4. “In Texas, we expect our elected official to enforce the law. If they don’t want to enforce the law, they just need to step aside.”