Republican ticket visits Wichita Falls ahead of Nov. 3 election
WICHITA FALLS — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton stopped in Wichita Falls on Monday as part of separate campaign bus tours, pressing a slate of conservative priorities and urging supporters to vote in the upcoming midterm election.
The candidates spoke to a large crowd at McBride’s Steak House, outlining policy plans on affordability, border security and law enforcement while attacking Democratic opponents. Abbott promoted what he described as an “affordability plan” he said would save the average Texas family more than $4,000 a year, and he pledged to continue cutting property taxes to keep the state’s economy strong.
“One way we are going to do that is with my affordability plan and is going to save our Texas family is more than $4,000 a year,” Abbott said during the visit.
Abbott criticized his Democratic opponent, state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, asserting she would endanger the state’s economy and public safety. He accused Hinojosa of supporting defunding police and said she would eliminate oil and gas jobs, a claim he warned would push many workers into unemployment.
Wichita County Sheriff William Rutledge offered a public endorsement of Abbott at the event, a local show of support the governor highlighted during his remarks on law enforcement.
Paxton focuses on housing and the 'Texas promise'
Paxton, who is campaigning for the U.S. Senate, used the stop to emphasize affordability and what he called protecting the “Texas promise” — his summary of goals intended to ensure Texans can buy homes, raise families and live without persistent financial struggle.
“My agenda is very simple. I’m going to fight so that every Texan can buy a home, raise a family, and live a healthy life without struggling to make ends meet,” Paxton said at the rally.
Both campaigns aimed to motivate turnout in what party officials and some polls have described as tight statewide races. Early voting in Texas was ongoing at the time of the visit, with Election Day set for Nov. 3.
What was said, and by whom
The gathering at McBride’s brought together multiple Republican figures and local supporters. Key themes and assertions from the visit included:
- Affordability: Abbott touted a plan he said would cut property taxes and save families more than $4,000 annually; Paxton emphasized affordability tied to housing and family stability.
- Law enforcement: Abbott sharply criticized his opponent’s record on policing and received an on-stage endorsement from Wichita County Sheriff William Rutledge.
- Energy and jobs: Abbott warned that Democratic policy would damage oil and gas employment, an argument aimed at protecting energy-sector jobs in the state.
| Speaker | Office sought | Primary message at Wichita Falls stop |
|---|---|---|
| Greg Abbott | Governor (seeking re-election) | Affordability plan, property tax cuts, border security, support for law enforcement |
| Ken Paxton | U.S. Senate candidate | Protecting the “Texas promise,” housing affordability, economic security |
| William Rutledge | Wichita County Sheriff | Endorsement of Abbott |
Regional relevance for Wichita residents
While the event took place in Texas, developments in neighboring states can affect political conversation in Kansas, especially on issues such as energy policy, border security rhetoric and economic competition. The candidates’ emphasis on property tax relief, energy jobs and law enforcement reflects themes that resonate across the Plains and Midwest, where voters often compare state-level approaches to affordability and business climate.
Texas officials and candidates have increasingly used high-profile bus tours to energize supporters in close statewide races. For Wichita residents watching neighboring-state politics, the Abbott and Paxton stop in Wichita Falls is part of a broader push to solidify turnout and define contrasts with Democratic opponents in the final week of early voting and heading into Election Day.
Early voting continued in Texas through Friday, and the statewide election was scheduled for Nov. 3.
