Recent polling has shown Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to be more popular than the other big-name Republican politicians in the Lone Star State. Abbott is up for re-election next year, and at this point his prospects are rosy.
But, as The Texas Observer reports, Abbott has thrown his full-throated support behind the controversial measure known as SB4, and his stance may be hurting the GOP’s long-term chances in Texas.
Senate Bill 4 is the law that would disallow cities from trying to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation. The measure is deeply unpopular among Latinos, who are also the fastest growing voting bloc in Texas. Recent polling suggests Gov. Abbot’s disapproval ratings have skyrocketed since he threw his support behind SB4.
The support for the bill by Texas Republicans like Abbott may end up hurting the Republican brand in Texas for a long time to come.