On the Fourth of July, former Texas Republican Party Chair Allen West announced that he is going to challenge Gov. Greg Abbott in the GOP primary, CBS DFW reported.
“It’s official! I’m all in. Your prayers and well-wishes are appreciated,” West wrote in a July 4 Facebook post.
West is the second Republican to take on Abbott for the party’s nomination. Abbott is up for a third term and may have little to worry about since he has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump, according to AP News.
West is not without supporters however and has earned the approval of Texas Republicans dissatisfied with Abbott’s leadership.
“I look forward to Allen joining our efforts to make clear that Texans can do better than Greg Abbott,” Don Huffines, former Texas Senator said, CBS DFW reported. “The open Texas border, skyrocketing property taxes and leftward cultural shift occurring in our state must end.”
West resigned as Republican Party Chair last month, after serving less than a year. He spent much of his term denouncing Abbott and fellow Republicans for not being conservative enough, AP News reported.
The former chair also previously held a protest at Abbott’s mansion to denounce the governor’s COVID-19 restrictions.
According to his election website, West said that his priorities include addressing border security, eliminating social media censorship, prohibiting abortion-inducing drugs, banning the teaching of critical race theory, achieving energy independence and significant tax reform.
A native of Atlanta, Georgia, West entered active duty service with the U.S. Army on Nov. 1, 1983 and rose to the rank of Battalion Commander before retiring in 2004 after 22 years of service. In 2010, West was elected to serve as a Florida State Representative and represented Florida’s 22nd district in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Huffines will also challenge Abbott for the governor’s office in the 2022 election, AP News reported.
