Can Allen West take on Greg Abbott in Texas?


We're about to find out if the Texas GOP is merely Trumpist, or outright secessionist.
Allen West, who previously served as a (controversial) Tea Party congressman from Florida and then more recently chaired the Texas Republican Party, announced Sunday that he will run in the 2022 GOP primary against incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott. "I can no longer sit on the sidelines and see what has happened in these United States of America," West said in his announcement video.
Whether West wants to remain a part of these United States of America is a question. Earlier this year, he supported a proposal for a non-binding referendum that would let Texas voters weigh in on whether the state should secede. And in December, after the Supreme Court turned away the state's lawsuit challenging Joe Biden's election, West suggested it was time for the Lone Star State to leave the union. "Perhaps law-abiding states should bond together and form a Union of states that will abide by the Constitution," he said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Is Abbott vulnerable? One the one hand, he has just a 44 percent approval rating in a recent poll — then again, that makes him the most popular politician in the state. Abbott has made every effort to shore up his base: He recently led efforts to ban abortion in all but a few cases, withhold funding from cities that defund police, crack down on protesters, and tighten voting restrictions. It seems absurd to think he's not conservative enough for his party. But some Republicans think he was too heavy handed in battling the pandemic — the governor reluctantly and briefly imposed mask mandates and business restrictions when COVID was raging — and West isn't the only GOP challenger Abbott has attracted. (Don't forget, too, that Matthew McConaughey might jump into the race.)
Because of its sheer size and large population, Texas often has outsized influence on what happens in the rest of the United States. The GOP nationally has taken a sharp anti-democratic turn during the Trump years, and Abbott has dutifully followed the trend. If that's not enough for Texas Republicans — and if Allen West has any success in his campaign — American politics might become more fractious than they already are.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Joel Mathis is a writer with 30 years of newspaper and online journalism experience. His work also regularly appears in National Geographic and The Kansas City Star. His awards include best online commentary at the Online News Association and (twice) at the City and Regional Magazine Association.
-
Mamdani upsets Cuomo in NYC mayoral primary
Speed Read Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani beat out Andrew Cuomo in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary
-
Iran nukes program set back months, early intel suggests
Speed Read A Pentagon assessment says US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites only set the program back by months, not years. This contradicts President Donald Trump's claim.
-
June 25 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Wednesday's cartoons include war on a loop, the New York City mayoral race, and one almighty F-bomb
-
How Zohran Mamdani's NYC mayoral run will change the Democratic Party
Talking Points The candidate poses a challenge to the party's 'dinosaur wing'
-
Is Trump's military parade 'just a parade'?
Talking Point Critics see an 'echo of authoritarianism'
-
Is Trump's LA troop deployment about order or authoritarianism?
Talking Points President: 'We're going to have troops everywhere.'
-
Musk: What did he achieve in Washington?
Feature Elon Musk leaves his government job but not after bruising his image, slashing aid and firing thousands
-
GOP megabill would limit judicial oversight of Trump
speed read The domestic policy bill Republicans pushed through the House would protect the Trump administration from the consequences of violating court orders
-
Medicaid: Will millions lose coverage?
Feature House Republicans have proposed a plan to cut Medicaid coverage for millions to help fund the GOP's tax cuts
-
A running list of Trump's conflicts of interest
In Depth A potential Qatari plane is the latest in a series of problematic connections
-
Is Trump trying to take over Congress?
Talking Points Separation of powers at stake in Library of Congress fight