Gov. Greg Abbott is demonstrating his clout as Texas moves into the 2018 election season, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Eight Democrats have filed to oppose Abbott in the general election in November, but Abbott has responded by flexing his muscles, politically and financially.
Abbott has revealed he has $43 million in the bank to prepare for a re-election bid. That is more money than any sitting Texas governor has ever had on hand to seek re-election.
"Not only does he have $43 million in the bank, he has a virtually unlimited ability to raise more if he should need it," SMU Political Analyst Matthew Wilson told News Radio 1200 WOAI. "But I don't think he will need it."
Among the eight Democrats in the running is Lupe Valdez. The former Dallas County Sheriff is running to become the First Lesbian Latina to serve as Governor, and Democrats hope she will energize the Latino vote, which shows up to vote in Texas in far smaller numbers than Latinos in California.
Another Democrat in the race is Andrew White, a Houston investor and the son of eighties Gov. Bill White. He supports abolishing the death penalty and liberalizing the state's marijuana laws, positions supporters hope will attract libertarian supporters.
But Wilson says Abbott will respond not only with a huge campaign warchest, but as the only statewide politicians who has a positive approval rating, with more than 70% of Texans approving the job Abbott is doing. He also has unlimited name recognition, something none of the Democrats have, and which they will need to pay dearly to achieve.
And Wilson says Abbott has played to the sweet spot of the Texas electorate, conservative, but not fringe.
"He is not so far right that he has alienated moderates," he said. "He is pretty well positioned idealogically in the Republican Party."
The eight Democrats will have to spend time and money obtaining name recognition, and fighting one another in the March Democratic primary, while Abbott can hold onto his cash for the general election.