Abbott, entourage urge Republicans to vote

Gov. Greg Abbott greets supporters during a campaign stop at the Jefferson County Republican Party's office in Port Neches on Wednesday. Photo taken Wednesday 10/24/18 Ryan Pelham/The Enterprise Gov. Greg Abbott greets supporters during a campaign stop at the Jefferson County Republican Party's office in Port Neches on Wednesday. Photo taken Wednesday 10/24/18 Ryan Pelham/The Enterprise Photo: Ryan Pelham / The Enterprise Photo: Ryan Pelham / The Enterprise Image 1 of / 13 Caption Close Abbott, entourage urge Republicans to vote 1 / 13 Back to Gallery

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott was welcomed into a nondescript Port Neches shopping center Wednesday with “The Yellow Rose of Texas” played by the local high school band and cheers from about 200 supporters.

He joined Republicans up and down the Jefferson County ballot - including state Rep. Dade Phelan, County Judge Jeff Branick and U.S. Rep. Randy Weber - to stress the importance of voting for conservative candidates.

“Don’t you want to keep the Texas brand of liberty where you get to run your own life?” Abbott asked the crowd.

Jefferson County voters have so far turned out en masse for early voting. County Clerk Carolyn Guidry, a Democrat running for re-election, said turnout has been closer to a presidential than a gubernatorial year.

In the first three days of early voting, nearly 19,000 county residents have cast ballots in person, she said. Nearly 5,500 people voted Wednesday, compared to 6,342 at the same point in the last presidential race and 2,908 in the last gubernatorial race, Guidry said.

Abbott on Wednesday talked about immigration and people who want to “turn Texas blue.” He cited Texas’ oversize economy — which he said would rank the 10th-largest among countries in the world — as another reason to vote for Republicans.

The crowd groaned and booed when Abbott mentioned U.S. senatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke. They chanted “lock her up” when referring to former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who was among the targets of a wave of pipe-bomb mailings against Democrats who have been publicly attacked by President Donald Trump.

Abbott brought up the migrant caravan heading toward the United States from Central America, which has become a campaign issue for many Republicans. He said 1,000 National Guard troops have already been deployed to the border to keep the caravan from coming into Texas.

Weber also touted economic success, saying Trump’s financial advisers told him while campaigning not to say he was going to get GDP growth above 4 percent. But now it’s at 4.2 percent.

He also criticized Democratic stances on gun control, the National Rifle Association and taxes.

“Are you tired of winning yet?” he asked the crowd.

kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.com

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