Abbott falls in polls as both Beto and McConaughey consider entering Texas race

Texas governor Greg Abbott could be headed for a rocky reelection fight next year if recent polling trends continue over the next 12 months.

The conservative hardliner faces two high-profile potential challengers who have expressed interest in seeking the governor’s mansion: Beto O’Rourke, former congressman and US Senate candidate who came within just a few percentage points of ousting senator Ted Cruz in 2018; and Matthew McConaughey, the Oscar-winning actor and Texas native.

Recent polls suggest the governor is more vulnerable than ever before. A survey taken this month by the University of Texas at Tyler for the Dallas Morning News found that Mr Abbott’s approval rating stands at 45 per cent, down a shocking 14 points over the course of a year as his state has weathered some of the worst rates of Covid-19 in the country and become a hotspot for the battle over abortion rights and voting restrictions.