As expected, Greg Abbott trounced Democratic challenger Lupe Valdez to easily coast to a second term, News Radio 1200 WOAI reprorts.
Abbott trounced Valdez, who is the former Dallas County Sheriff, by 14 percentage points, less than his 21 point margin of victory over Wendy Davis four years ago, but still a decisive victory.
"We all want safer communities, we all want better jobs, and we all want better schools," Abbott said, urging cooperation between both parties. "We need to unite behind these goals, because we are all Texans."
Abbott's daughter Aubrey said she has been campaigning for her father 'since I was two years old.'
"And this year, for the first time, I was able to vote for him," she said at Abbott's victory party.
"Know this, I will never stop fighting for you and your families, as we continue to make Texas the premier state in America," Abbott said.
Abbott said he received a phone call from Valdez, and said 'whether you voted for me or against me, or didn't vote at all, I am going to work for everybody in this great state.'
Abbott's victory propelled the full slate of Republican statewide office holders to victory, again denying Democrats any statewide non judicial victory, something the Democrats haven't won since 1994.
Attorney General Ken Paxton, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, and Land Commissioner George P. Bush, who earned some emnity in San Antonio for his push to reimagine Alamo Plaza, all cruised to statewide victories.