x
Breaking News
More () »

Race for Texas Governor heating up with 99 days until Election Day

Election Day is Nov. 8 and both candidates are drumming up support in their own ways.

HOUSTON — With less than 100 days until the November General Election, arguably the biggest race in Texas is heating up.

The battle to be governor is close and there are some key issues that could help both sides. As the days wind down to Nov. 8, the passion of each candidate's supporters is still at a fever pitch.

Brandon Rottinghaus is a political science professor at the University of Houston. A UH poll taken last month showed Democrat Beto O’Rourke trailing incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott by five points among likely voters.

RELATED: UT poll: Abbott's lead over O'Rourke narrows

Top issues

Rottinghaus said he thinks inflation and immigration, specifically border security, are two of the top issues.

On Monday, Abbott invited the mayors of Washington D.C. and New York to the Texas-Mexico border to see what he called a "humanitarian and security crisis."

Rottinghaus also said abortion, the power grid and gun control are all issues Democrats could use to draw independent voters to close the gap.

“This is gonna be a war of messaging. Whoever can determine what the agenda should be is going to be the winner," he said.

Delivering the message

Rottinghaus said there’s a big difference in how each candidate gets that message to voters.

Abbott is hitting the airwaves while O'Rourke is hitting the road. The challenger is currently in the middle of a 49-day, 5,600-mile statewide tour.

RELATED: Gov. Abbott speaks to KHOU 11 about issues in Texas, including Uvalde and abortion

RELATED: 'Houston, we're going to win' | Beto O'Rourke rallies supporters at town hall as 49-day statewide campaign tour lands in Houston

Rottinghaus said there's another big thing making those strategies possible

“It’s gonna be the battle of the bank accounts,” he said.

Both candidates' spending shows no signs of stopping for the next 99 days.

Before You Leave, Check This Out