Abbott, Paxton Decline Debates With Democrats
Texas Republicans Greg Abbott and Ken Paxton both opted out of debates against their Democratic challengers ahead of the midterm elections.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Elections
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Texas Governor Greg Abbott declined to debate Democratic opponent Gina Hinojosa, and Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton also declined to debate Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico. Abbott said his campaign is focusing on voter turnout rather than debates.
Why it matters
No Democrat has won statewide office in Texas since 1994, and a Democrat has not been elected governor since 1990, making the decision to skip debates notable for Texas voters. Abbott said voter turnout is what wins elections and that voters want to see candidates in person.
Abbott declined to debate Hinojosa, and Paxton declined to debate Talarico, according to the candidates' decisions reported on Election Day. Democrats have not won a Texas governorship since 1990 or a statewide office since 1994.
The players
Greg Abbott
Greg Abbott is the Republican governor of Texas seeking reelection.
Gina Hinojosa
Gina Hinojosa is a Democratic state representative running for Texas governor.
Ken Paxton
Ken Paxton is the Republican Attorney General of Texas running for U.S. Senate.
James Talarico
James Talarico is a Democratic state representative running for U.S. Senate in Texas.
The details
Abbott told Martha MacCallum of Fox News on The Story that he chose to campaign in person in communities instead of debating, saying voters want to see candidates in person. He said his campaign's turnout strategy would mean Republican wins up and down the ballot if effective.
Timeline
November 3, 2026: Voters went to the polls on Election Day, and Abbott was interviewed on Fox News.
Political Context
Texas has not elected a Democratic governor since 1990 and has not sent a Democrat to statewide office since 1994. Abbott's and Paxton's decisions to skip debates come against that long-running Republican statewide dominance.
Texas voters will decide these races without the head-to-head debates the Democratic challengers requested. Voters who want to compare the candidates side by side will have to rely on campaign events and media interviews instead.
The takeaway
Candidates' choices to skip debates can shape how voters gather information before Election Day. Readers may want to look at each candidate's public appearances and statements to form their own view.
Further reading
For more on the candidates and races, see Elections coverage across the state.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mediaite.
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