Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott faces pushback after touting endorsements from Democratic sheriffs for his re-election campaign. Multiple sheriffs publicly dispute that they backed Abbott, saying their names were used without their authorization or that they did not endorse him.
Reports describe Abbott’s announcement listing sheriffs’ support and then sheriffs responding to clarify their positions. The accounts name specific officials who deny endorsing Abbott, including Zapata County Sheriff Ramon Montes, Val Verde County Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez, and Webb County Sheriff Marin Cuellar, with Cuellar later removed from the list according to one report. Martinez and Cuellar also describe the matter in terms of direct messages or lack of contact from Abbott’s office.
While all outlets focus on the same endorsement dispute, they differ in how many details they include. One outlet adds background context about polling and identifies the Democratic challenger, while others keep the coverage brief and centered on the denials.
