crat O’Rourke tries to oust Texas Republican Gov. Abbott’s bid for a third term // Republican Texas Governor. Greg Abbott sought a record-setting third term Tuesday, while Democrat Beto won in America’s largest red state in one the most expensive midterm elections in the U.S. Over 5 million early votes were already cast in Texas ahead of Election Day. This is where anger over the Uvalde school shooting, which left 19 children and two teachers killed in May, intensified an already heated contest. Both candidates spent more than $200 millions on their campaigns. Five months later, Texas’ state police are still under pressure for failing to confront Robb Elementary School’s gunman sooner. O’Rourke stated that the attack at Robb Elementary School, one of the most deadly in American history, heightened the stakes of the election. Abbott refused to support tougher gun laws. MIDTERM ELECTIONS : LIVE UPDATES But Abbott (64), has been a formidable figure in a state where Republicans have won all governor’s races since 1994. He rallied his base around record numbers of illegal border crossings between Mexico and the U.S., aggressively courted Hispanic votes in South Texas, and capitalized on economic anxieties that have created headwinds to Democrats nationally. A victory for Abbott would strengthen his potential presidential candidacy in 2024, secure him as the second-longest serving governor of the state’s history, and extend decades GOP dominance. O’Rourke was scheduled to go on Tuesday to Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston to finish his campaign before returning home to El Paso to await the results of his election. Abbott was election night Tuesday at McAllen, a sign of the GOP’s growing confidence in a region that has been a stronghold for Democrats. O’Rourke’s tough-charging challenge has rekindled Democrats’ hopes and appealed to voters who were hurt by the Uvalde shooting, strict new abortion bans, and the devastating collapse of the state’s electricity grid in winter 2021. Former El Paso congressman O’Rourke has positioned himself as a fresh start in Texas and a check to a GOP-controlled Legislature. He also promises to legalize marijuana, expand Medicaid, and more. DEM. REPUBLICAN POLICIAL MACHINES SPENT STAGGERING $1B+ ABOUT JUST FIVE SENATE RACE Four years after O’Rourke (50) almost won a U.S. Senate Seat in Texas raising his profile within the Democratic Party, O’Rourke has faced more skeptical voters. Abbott has portrayed him as a liberal crusader. O’Rourke has had to answer for positions he held while running for the White House, including his support for mandatory gun buybacks. O’Rourke interrupted a news conference by Abbott the day after the shooting in Uvalde and said, “This is upon you”, in reference to Governor Abbott’s opposition to tougher gun laws. Republicans thought it was a slap in the face, but O’Rourke’s supporters saw it to be a true expression of their anger. Deborah Thompson stated that she voted for O’Rourke during early voting in suburban Dallas because she was concerned about the threat to voting rights and voting rights. Richardson resident, 56, stated that she believes that 18-year old girls who have been raped should have the right to get an abortion. “I’m not going to go back. I’m not going to the ’50s… and I’m so mad at all of it.” Janie Helms, a retired woman, said that her worries about inflation prompted her to vote for Abbott. She said, “I see him like a conservative who will monitor our money.”