Abbott disapproval rating up 8 points to 59 percent in San Antonio area: poll

A new San Antonio area poll shows that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott‘s (R) disapproval rating has increased to 59 percent, an 8-point jump from the last time the survey was taken in March. 

The Bexar Facts-KSAT-San Antonio Report poll showed that 91 percent of Democrats and 55 percent of independents disapproved of Abbott, compared to only 15 percent of Republicans. 

The poll’s respondents also gave middling marks to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) and Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), at 45 percent and 44 percent disapproval, respectively. Patrick and Paxton were both instrumental in helping enact some of Abbott’s key priorities, including the state’s controversial “fetal heartbeat” bill and new voting restrictions, KSAT noted. 

The poll comes after Abbott last week called for the Texas legislature to stiffen the penalties for illegal voting, urging state lawmakers to reverse a recent change that lowered the penalties from a second-degree felony to a Class A misdemeanor. 

The governor is also moving ahead with an audit of the 2020 presidential election in in his state’s four largest counties following a pressure campaign from former President Trump.

Abbott, who is up for reelection in November 2022, is facing primary challenges from former state Sen. Don Huffines and former Rep. Allen West. Both Huffines and West have criticized Abbott for not pushing harder on Republican priorities, like securing the southern border, according to KSAT.

Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke is also considering entering the Texas governor’s race on the Democratic ticket, and actor Matthew McConaughey may launch a campaign as well.