AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott brushes aside Democrats' hopes that they'll make gains in Texas this election year.

Speaking Friday morning at the Resurgent Gathering 2018, a meeting of conservatives hosted by influential blogger Erick Erickson, Abbott was asked whether a blue wave was coming to the Lone Star State. He pointed to his 2014 battle with then Sen. Wendy Davis for governor.

"When the final score was posted, I beat Wendy Davis by more than 20 percentage points," Abbott said. "Texas is going to stay red."

Recent polls shows a handful of Texas elections may be closer than previously believed. Two survey results released this week, in particular, showed Democratic Congressman Beto O'Rourke within striking distance of incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz.

Erickson also asked Abbott how the state balances the progressive policies of local cities like Austin with lawmakers' conservative values.

"It's easy. We don't tolerate it," Abbott said.

He mentioned how Austin's plastic bag ban and Denton's fracking ban were both overturned, applauded state lawmakers for the 2017 law prohibiting sanctuary cities and told Texans to expect more efforts like this when the Legislature next meets in January 2019.

"We said, 'Texas is not going to tolerate that brand of regulation,'" Abbott said. "Same thing is going to happen this coming session with some other things."

During his half hour on stage at the event, Abbott also said he would be in favor of changing the name of the Texas Railroad Commission — which regulates the oil and gas industry here — and joked about the immigration crisis resulting in West Coasters moving to the Lone Star State.

"Instead of building a wall on the border between Texas and Mexico, we're going to build a wall between Texas and New Mexico so we can keep all of the Californians out," Abbott said to applause from the crowd.

Later this weekend, Cruz and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who is now president Donald Trump's Energy Secretary, will also speak at the four-day event.