What Greg Abbott’s decisive win over Beto O’Rourke portends for his future

Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a Site Selection Governor’s Cup award announcement March 1 at the Texas Governor’s Mansion in Austin. (Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune)

An unprecedented pandemic that shut down the state economy and killed thousands of Texans. A power-grid failure that left millions freezing in the dark. The deadliest school shooting in the state’s history. The end of a 50-year constitutional right to get an abortion. A restless right flank. And then Beto O’Rourke.

Gov. Greg Abbott is emerging from the most tumultuous two years of his governorship with a decisive reelection victory in hand. His win was among the brightest spots for Republicans nationwide on election night, as the party underperformed expectations of a “red wave.”