Abbott, O’Rourke spar over immigration, abortion and Uvalde shooting in debate

Democratic nominee for governor Beto O’Rourke, left, and Republican Gov. Greg Abbott debate Friday at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg. (Credit: Courtesy of News Nation)

Gov. Greg Abbott and Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke clashed Friday night over immigration, abortion and gun control in the only planned gubernatorial debate before the Nov. 8 elections.

Throughout the debate, Abbott tried to depict O’Rourke as an acolyte of Democratic President Joe Biden who would drive Texas to the left and who constantly “flip-flopped” on issues like police funding, immigration and energy policies. O’Rourke, for his part, said he wanted to “prosecute the case” against Abbott and the governor’s failures on issues like fixing the state’s energy grid, lowering property taxes and preventing school shootings.