Gov. Abbott won’t say if he voted for Paxton, Miller or Bush

Gov. Greg Abbott, who cast an early ballot Tuesday, wouldn’t say whether he voted for fellow Republican incumbents Attorney General Ken Paxton, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller or Land Commissioner George P. Bush.

“Well, as you know, the ballot is secret,” Abbott said in response to a reporter’s question about whether he voted for the three. “It will remain secret. I will reveal one thing for you: I voted for myself.”

Paxton, who is under indictment, has no opponent in the GOP primary. Miller faces two challengers, including former lobbyist Trey Blocker. Bush is in a three-person primary race that includes Jerry Patterson, a former land commissioner and former senator.

While he declined to say how he voted in the statewide races, Abbott is campaigning against three incumbent Republican lawmakers: Reps. Lyle Larson of San Antonio, Sarah Davis of West University Place and Wayne Faircloth of Galveston.

“It’s important as I go about the campaign process in some of these hotly contested races that I … work with people in those districts to let ’em know exactly the challenges that I’m facing in dealing with some of these representatives, and hence the need for some changes in the Capitol,” Abbott said.

Abbott released a campaign ad Tuesday supporting Hollywood Park Mayor Chris Fails in his challenge to Larson, whom the governor dubbed “Liberal Lyle.” Larson has pointed to his conservative votes, including his support of Abbott agenda items.

Larson, like the other two lawmakers opposed by Abbott, favored ethics legislation to limit the governor’s appointment of big donors to state boards and commissions. Larson was the author of the legislation, which he said wasn’t directed at Abbott but meant to curb a longstanding practice by governors.

But after Abbott vetoed unrelated legislation by Larson, the lawmaker blamed it on the governor’s pique over the ethics legislation and he became increasingly critical of the governor. The ethics legislation passed the House but died in the Senate.

Abbott also is campaigning for several fellow Republicans, including Rep. Paul Workman of Austin, who appeared with him at his early-voting stop at a Randalls grocery store.