2022 Texas gubernatorial election
The 2022 Texas gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Texas. Incumbent Republican Governor Greg Abbott won a third term, defeating the [Texas Texas Democratic Party|Democratic Party|Democratic] nominee, former Congressman Beto O'Rourke. All statewide elected offices were currently held by Republicans. In his previous gubernatorial race in 2018, Abbott won with 55.8% of the vote.
The Democratic and Republican primaries were held on March 1, 2022. O'Rourke and Abbott won outright majorities in their respective primaries, and therefore did not participate in the May 24 runoffs.
Texas had not elected a Democratic candidate for governor since Ann Richards won a narrow victory in 1990. Additionally, Abbott had a strong approval rating on election day, with 55% of voters approving to 45% disapproving. Beto O'Rourke, who gained national attention in 2018 for his unusually close and competitive campaign against Senator Ted Cruz, was at one-time widely viewed as a rising star in the Texas Democratic Party and potential challenger for Abbott. However, in the intervening years, he amassed baggage that was leveraged against him in 2022. A [Beto O'Rourke 2020 United States Senate election in Texas|2020 presidential campaign|failed run for President of the United States] in 2020 was leveraged by Republicans to characterize him as opportunistic. Stances he had taken related to gun control during that presidential campaign were also leveraged against him by Republicans.
Abbott won by 10.9%, a slightly smaller margin of victory than his 13.3% margin in 2018 in spite of a much more Republican national climate in 2022, making this the closest gubernatorial election in Texas since 2006, and the closest election of Abbott's entire political career since his first race for the Texas Supreme Court in 1998. Beto O'Rourke, meanwhile, performed 8.3% worse than his 2018 Senate run, but he still won the highest share for a Democratic gubernatorial candidate since Ann Richards received 45.9% in her unsuccessful reelection bid against George W. Bush in 1994. Abbott's raw vote total was less than his 4.65 million in 2018, while O'Rourke set a record of most raw votes for a Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate at around 3.55 million, but it was also less than his 4.04 million vote total in the 2018 Senate race.
Abbott carried 235 out of 254 counties, flipping the heavily Hispanic counties of Culberson and Zapata and becoming the first Republican gubernatorial candidate to win the latter in the state's history, while O'Rourke became the first Democratic gubernatorial candidate to win the county of Fort Bend since 1974. O'Rourke outperformed Joe Biden two years prior among Latino voters, though his performance with them was still worse than past nominees.
Republican primary
On June 4, 2021, Texas Republican Party chairman Allen West announced his resignation as party chair. West criticized Gov. Greg Abbott's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Texas. The history of conflict between West and Abbott included a lawsuit by West and other Republicans challenging Abbott's extension of the early voting period in 2020, as well as a protest outside the Governor's Mansion over pandemic-related shutdowns as well as mask mandates. On July 4, 2021, West announced that he would challenge Abbott in the 2022 gubernatorial primary. Both West and fellow gubernatorial candidate Don Huffines were considered more conservative than Abbott. On March 1, 2022, Abbott won the Republican primary by a smaller margin than in 2018.Candidates
Nominee
- Greg Abbott, incumbent governor and former Texas Attorney General
Eliminated in primary
- Paul G. Belew, criminal defense attorney
- Danny Harrison, businessman
- Kandy Kaye Horn, philanthropist
- Don Huffines, former member of the Texas Senate
- Ricky Lynn Perry, staffing agency employee
- Chad Prather, podcaster / talk show host, activist, and stand-up comedian
- Allen West, former chair of the Texas Republican Party and former U.S. representative for
Withdrawn
- Martin Holsome, former Rusk city councillor
- Kurt Schwab, military veteran
Declined
- George P. Bush, Texas Land Commissioner and member of the Bush family '
- Christi Craddick, Texas Railroad Commissioner
- Glenn Hegar, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts '
- Sid Miller, Texas Agriculture Commissioner
- Rick Perry, former governor and former U.S. Secretary of Energy
- Joe Straus, former Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives
Polling
Graphical summary| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Greg Abbott | Don Huffines | Perry | Chad Prather | Allen West | Other | Undecided |
| The Trafalgar Group | February 25–28, 2022 | 1,040 | ± 3.0% | 62% | 10% | 2% | 2% | 15% | 5% | 3% |
| Emerson College | February 21–22, 2022 | 522 | ± 4.2% | 61% | 9% | 3% | 3% | 12% | 3% | 9% |
| UT Tyler | February 8–15, 2022 | 581 | ± 4.4% | 60% | 3% | 6% | 3% | 7% | 5% | 15% |
| YouGov/UT | January 28 – February 7, 2022 | 375 | ± 5.1% | 60% | 14% | 5% | 3% | 15% | 3% | – |
| Paradigm Partners | January 31, 2022 | 1,542 | ± 2.5% | 34% | 5% | 6% | 6% | 43% | 3% | 4% |
| UT Tyler | January 18–25, 2022 | 514 | ± 5.1% | 59% | 4% | 4% | 2% | 6% | 4% | 20% |
| YouGov/UH | January 14–24, 2022 | 490 | ± 3.7% | 58% | 7% | 3% | 2% | 11% | 2% | 17% |
| Paradigm Partners | January 9, 2022 | 1,486 | ± 2.5% | 33% | 5% | 12% | 3% | 38% | 3% | 7% |
| Paradigm Partners | December 16, 2021 | 447 | ± 4.5% | 33% | 2% | 15% | 1% | 35% | – | 14% |
| Paradigm Partners | November 30, 2021 | – | – | 42% | 3% | – | 2% | 36% | – | 17% |
| UT Tyler | November 9–16, 2021 | 520 | ± 4.7% | 65% | 3% | – | 6% | 6% | 3% | 18% |
| Paradigm Partners | November 11, 2021 | – | – | 43% | 3% | – | 2% | 33% | – | 19% |
| YouGov/UT/TT | October 22–31, 2021 | 554 | ± 4.2% | 56% | 7% | – | 4% | 13% | 4% | 16% |
| YouGov/TXHPF | October 14–27, 2021 | 405 | ± 4.9% | 61% | 4% | – | 3% | 13% | – | 19% |
| UT Tyler | September 7–14, 2021 | 427 | ± 6.1% | 70% | 15% | – | – | – | 15% | – |
| UT Tyler | September 7–14, 2021 | 431 | ± 6.0% | 65% | – | – | – | 20% | 15% | – |
| Victory Insights | July 22–24, 2021 | 400 | ± 4.9% | 80% | – | – | – | 20% | – | – |
| Paradigm Partners | June 30, 2021 | – | – | 73% | – | – | – | 17% | – | 10% |
| UT Tyler | June 22–29, 2021 | 440 | ± 5.4% | 77% | 12% | – | – | – | 11% | – |
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Greg Abbott | Don Huffines | Sid Miller | Allen West | Undecided |
| Public Opinion Strategies | June 14–17, 2021 | 446 | ± 4.6% | 69% | 3% | 3% | 13% | – |
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Beto O'Rourke, former U.S. representative for, nominee for U.S. Senate in 2018 and candidate for president of the United States in 2020
Eliminated in primary
- Inocencio Barrientez, fitness trainer
- Michael Cooper, pastor, candidate for lieutenant governor in 2018, and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020
- Joy Diaz, reporter
- Rich Wakeland, former advisor to Public Utility Commissioner Ken Anderson
Disqualified
- Jack Daniel Foster Jr., teacher
- R. Star Locke, veteran
Declined
- Steve Adler, mayor of Austin
- Joaquin Castro, U.S. representative for '
- Julián Castro, former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, former mayor of San Antonio, and candidate for president of the United States in 2020
- Wendy Davis, former state senator, nominee for governor in 2014, and nominee for in 2020
- Veronica Escobar, U.S. representative for, former El Paso commissioner, and former El Paso county judge '
- Lina Hidalgo, Harris County judge
Polling
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Inocencio Barrientez | Michael Cooper | Joy Diaz | Jack | Deirdre Gilbert | Star Locke | Beto O'Rourke | Rich Wakeland | Other | Undecided |
| Emerson College | February 21–22, 2022 | 388 | ± 4.9% | 1% | 5% | 4% | – | – | – | 78% | 2% | – | 11% |
| UT Tyler | February 8–15, 2022 | 479 | ± 4.9% | 2% | 3% | 4% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 68% | 2% | – | 14% |
| YouGov/UT | January 28 – February 7, 2022 | 348 | ± 5.3% | 2% | 1% | 2% | – | – | – | 93% | 1% | 1% | – |
| UT Tyler | January 18–25, 2022 | 459 | ± 5.4% | 1% | 6% | 4% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 58% | 0% | – | 27% |
| YouGov/UH | January 14–24, 2022 | 616 | ± 3.3% | 3% | 4% | 3% | – | – | – | 73% | 1% | – | 16% |
| YouGov/UT/TT | October 22–31, 2021 | 436 | ± 4.7% | – | – | – | – | – | – | 70% | – | 5% | 25% |
Green primary
Candidates
Declared
- Delilah Barrios, environmental activist
Libertarian convention
Candidates
Declared
- Mark Jay Tippetts, attorney, former Lago Vista city councilman, and nominee for governor in 2018
Withdrew/disqualified
- Dan Behrman, software engineer, internet personality, candidate for Texas House of Representatives in 2014, and candidate for President of the United States in 2020
- Andrew Jewell, industrial maintenance technician, Secretary of Libertarian Party of Dallas County, chair of Texas Libertarian Party Radical Caucus, and candidate for Dallas County Commissioner District 3 in 2020
Independents and other parties
Candidates
Declared
- Jacqueline Abernathy, public health policies consultant and American Solidarity Party candidate
- Deirdre Dickson-Gilbert, public educator
- Ricardo Turullols-Bonilla, retired educator and write-in candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020
Disqualified
- Patrick Wynne, software engineer, data scientist and U.S. Navy veteran
Declined
- Matthew McConaughey, Academy Award-winning actor
General election
Polling
Aggregate pollsGraphical summary
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Greg Abbott | Beto O'Rourke | Other | Undecided |
| CWS Research | November 2–5, 2022 | 786 | ± 3.5% | 53% | 42% | 2% | 3% |
| UT Tyler | October 17–24, 2022 | 1,330 | ± 2.9% | 47% | 44% | 7% | 1% |
| UT Tyler | October 17–24, 2022 | 973 | ± 3.4% | 50% | 44% | 5% | 1% |
| Emerson College | October 17–19, 2022 | 1,000 | ± 3.0% | 52% | 42% | 1% | 4% |
| Emerson College | October 17–19, 2022 | 1,000 | ± 3.0% | 53% | 44% | 3% | – |
| Siena College | October 16–19, 2022 | 649 | ± 5.1% | 52% | 43% | 2% | 4% |
| Beacon Research | October 15–19, 2022 | 1,264 | ± 2.8% | 48% | 45% | – | – |
| BSP Research/UT | October 11–18, 2022 | 1,400 | ± 2.6% | 46% | 42% | 3% | 9% |
| YouGov/UT | October 7–17, 2022 | 833 | ± 3.3% | 54% | 43% | 4% | 2% |
| Civiqs | October 8–11, 2022 | 791 | ± 4.0% | 52% | 44% | 3% | 0% |
| Marist College | October 3–6, 2022 | 1,058 | ± 4.4% | 49% | 45% | 1% | 5% |
| Marist College | October 3–6, 2022 | 898 | ± 4.8% | 52% | 44% | 1% | 4% |
| Quinnipiac University | September 22–26, 2022 | 1,327 | ± 2.7% | 53% | 46% | 2% | – |
| Emerson College | September 20–22, 2022 | 1,000 | ± 3.0% | 50% | 42% | 4% | 5% |
| ActiVote | June 23 – September 21, 2022 | 323 | ± 6.0% | 47% | 40% | 12% | – |
| Siena College | September 14–18, 2022 | 651 | ± 4.4% | 50% | 43% | 2% | 5% |
| Texas Hispanic Policy Foundation | September 6–15, 2022 | 1,172 | ± 2.9% | 51% | 44% | 2% | 3% |
| UT Tyler | September 7–13, 2022 | 1,268 | ± 2.9% | 47% | 38% | 9% | 2% |
| Data for Progress | September 2–9, 2022 | 712 | ± 4.0% | 50% | 45% | 2% | 3% |
| Echelon Insights | August 31 – September 7, 2022 | 813 | ± 4.4% | 48% | 46% | – | 6% |
| YouGov/UT | August 26 – September 6, 2022 | 1,200 | ± 2.8% | 45% | 40% | 4% | 11% |
| YouGov/UH/TSU | August 11–29, 2022 | 1,312 | ± 2.7% | 49% | 42% | 2% | 7% |
| UT Tyler | August 1–7, 2022 | 1,384 | ± 2.8% | 46% | 39% | 13% | 1% |
| UT Tyler | August 1–7, 2022 | 1,215 | ± 3.0% | 48% | 42% | 9% | 1% |
| YouGov/UH | June 27 – July 7, 2022 | 1,169 | ± 2.9% | 47% | 42% | 2% | 9% |
| YouGov/UH | June 27 – July 7, 2022 | 1,006 | ± 3.1% | 49% | 44% | 2% | 5% |
| YouGov/CBS News | June 22–27, 2022 | 548 | ± 6.6% | 49% | 41% | 4% | 6% |
| YouGov/UT | June 16–24, 2022 | 1,200 | ± 2.8% | 45% | 39% | 6% | 10% |
| YouGov/PerryUndem | June 15–24, 2022 | 2,000 | ± 2.2% | 47% | 43% | 3% | 5% |
| Quinnipiac University | June 9–13, 2022 | 1,257 | ± 2.8% | 48% | 43% | 2% | 5% |
| Blueprint Polling | June 8–10, 2022 | 603 | ± 4.0% | 56% | 37% | – | 7% |
| UT Tyler | May 2–10, 2022 | 1,232 | ± 3.1% | 46% | 39% | 14% | 2% |
| YouGov/UT | April 14–22, 2022 | 1,200 | ± 2.8% | 48% | 37% | 7% | 9% |
| YouGov/TXHPF | March 18–28, 2022 | 1,139 | ± 2.9% | 50% | 42% | 3% | 5% |
| Texas Lyceum | March 11–20, 2022 | 926 | ± 3.2% | 42% | 40% | 7% | 11% |
| Emerson College | February 21–22, 2022 | 1,000 | ± 3.0% | 52% | 45% | – | 3% |
| UT Tyler | February 8–15, 2022 | 1,188 | ± 3.1% | 45% | 38% | 16% | 1% |
| Climate Nexus | February 1–9, 2022 | 806 | ± 3.6% | 45% | 40% | 7% | 8% |
| YouGov/UT | January 28 – February 7, 2022 | 1,200 | ± 2.8% | 47% | 37% | 6% | 11% |
| UT Tyler | January 18–25, 2022 | 1,072 | ± 3.5% | 47% | 36% | 16% | 1% |
| YouGov/UH | January 14–24, 2022 | – | – | 48% | 43% | 3% | 6% |
| Quinnipiac University | December 2–6, 2021 | 1,224 | ± 2.8% | 52% | 37% | 4% | 6% |
| UT Tyler | November 9–16, 2021 | 1,106 | ± 3.2% | 45% | 39% | 16% | – |
| Redfield & Wilton Strategies | November 9, 2021 | 884 | ± 3.3% | 40% | 39% | 5% | 7% |
| Redfield & Wilton Strategies | November 9, 2021 | 854 | ± 3.4% | 43% | 44% | 5% | 6% |
| YouGov/UT/TT | October 22–31, 2021 | 1,200 | ± 2.8% | 46% | 37% | 7% | 10% |
| YouGov/TXHPF | October 14–27, 2021 | 1,402 | ± 3.1% | 43% | 42% | 3% | 12% |
| UT Tyler | September 7–14, 2021 | 1,148 | ± 3.7% | 42% | 37% | 21% | – |
| UT Tyler | June 22–29, 2021 | 1,090 | ± 3.0% | 45% | 33% | 22% | – |
| Public Opinion Strategies | June 14–17, 2021 | 800 | ± 3.5% | 52% | 42% | – | 6% |
Greg Abbott vs. Julián Castro
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Greg Abbott | Julián Castro | Other | Undecided |
| Redfield & Wilton Strategies | November 9, 2021 | 884 | ± 3.3% | 43% | 35% | 4% | 9% |
| Redfield & Wilton Strategies | November 9, 2021 | 854 | ± 3.4% | 45% | 39% | 4% | 8% |
Greg Abbott vs. Beto O'Rourke with Matthew McConaughey as an independent
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Greg Abbott | Beto O'Rourke | Matthew McConaughey | Other | Undecided |
| Echelon Insights | August 31 – September 7, 2022 | 813 | ± 4.4% | 42% | 39% | 13% | – | 6% |
| UT Tyler | November 9–16, 2021 | 1,106 | ± 3.2% | 37% | 26% | 27% | 10% | – |
| YouGov/TXHPF | October 14–27, 2021 | 1,402 | ± 3.1% | 40% | 37% | 9% | 2% | 12% |
Greg Abbott vs. Don Huffines
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Greg Abbott | Don Huffines | Other |
| UT Tyler | June 22–29, 2021 | 1,090 | ± 3.0% | 46% | 22% | 32% |
Greg Abbott vs. Matthew McConaughey
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Greg Abbott | Matthew McConaughey | Other |
| UT Tyler | November 9–16, 2021 | 1,106 | ± 3.2% | 35% | 43% | 22% |
| UT Tyler | September 7–14, 2021 | 1,148 | ± 3.7% | 35% | 44% | 21% |
| UT Tyler | June 22–29, 2021 | 1,090 | ± 3.0% | 39% | 38% | 23% |
| UT Tyler | April 6–13, 2021 | 1,124 | ± 2.9% | 33% | 45% | 22% |
Greg Abbott vs. generic Democrat
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Greg Abbott | Generic Democrat | Undecided |
| Data for Progress | September 15–22, 2020 | 726 | ± 3.6% | 46% | 34% | 20% |
Greg Abbott vs. generic opponent
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Greg Abbott | Generic Opponent | Undecided |
| Quinnipiac University | September 24–27, 2021 | 863 | ± 3.3% | 42% | 51% | 7% |
| Quinnipiac University | June 15–21, 2021 | 1,099 | ± 3.0% | 46% | 48% | 6% |
Results
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
By congressional district
Abbott won 25 of 38 congressional districts.| District | Abbott | O'Rourke | Representative |
| 77% | 22% | Louie Gohmert | |
| 77% | 22% | Nathaniel Moran | |
| 62% | 36% | Dan Crenshaw | |
| 59% | 39% | Van Taylor | |
| 59% | 39% | Keith Self | |
| 66% | 33% | Pat Fallon | |
| 63% | 35% | Lance Gooden | |
| 65% | 34% | Jake Ellzey | |
| 35% | 63% | Lizzie Fletcher | |
| 67% | 32% | Kevin Brady | |
| 67% | 32% | Morgan Luttrell | |
| 23% | 76% | Al Green | |
| 61% | 37% | Michael McCaul | |
| 74% | 25% | August Pfluger | |
| 60% | 39% | Kay Granger | |
| 75% | 24% | Ronny Jackson | |
| 66% | 32% | Randy Weber | |
| 52% | 46% | Vicente Gonzalez | |
| 52% | 46% | Monica De La Cruz | |
| 35% | 64% | Veronica Escobar | |
| 65% | 34% | Pete Sessions | |
| 25% | 73% | Sheila Jackson Lee | |
| 77% | 22% | Jodey Arrington | |
| 32% | 66% | Joaquín Castro | |
| 61% | 38% | Chip Roy | |
| 59% | 39% | Troy Nehls | |
| 54% | 44% | Tony Gonzales | |
| 58% | 41% | Beth Van Duyne | |
| 68% | 31% | Roger Williams | |
| 61% | 37% | Michael Burgess | |
| 64% | 35% | Michael Cloud | |
| 46% | 52% | Henry Cuellar | |
| 30% | 68% | Sylvia Garcia | |
| 22% | 77% | Eddie Bernice Johnson | |
| 22% | 77% | Jasmine Crockett | |
| 61% | 37% | John Carter | |
| 34% | 64% | Colin Allred | |
| 26% | 73% | Marc Veasey | |
| 43% | 56% | Mayra Flores | |
| 43% | 56% | Vicente Gonzalez | |
| 26% | 73% | Lloyd Doggett | |
| 26% | 73% | Greg Casar | |
| 67% | 31% | Brian Babin | |
| 21% | 77% | Lloyd Doggett | |
| 61% | 38% | Wesley Hunt |
Analysis
Texas Democrats hoped for Beto O'Rourke to achieve an upset over the incumbent Greg Abbott, which did not materialize. Abbott won by 10.9%, down from 13.3% in 2018. Abbott's margin was slightly larger than aggregate polling, but virtually in line with the last poll conducted. He won the vast majority of counties, mostly rural, and by significantly wide margins. In particular, 34 counties, mainly in West Texas and the Texas panhandle, gave Abbott over 90% of the vote. This was the most by any Texas Republican gubernatorial candidate, and the most for any candidate since Democrat Allan Shivers' 1954 re-election.Abbott won the three largest metro areas in the state, which include Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington in North Texas, Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land in Southeast Texas, and San Antonio–New Braunfels in South-Central Texas. He also won all of the state's mid-sized metro areas outside of the Rio Grande Valley, which include Corpus Christi along the coastal bend; Waco, Killeen–Temple–Fort Hood, and Bryan–College Station in Central Texas; Beaumont–Port Arthur, Tyler and Longview in East Texas; Lubbock, Abilene, and Midland-Odessa in West Texas; and Amarillo in the Panhandle. Abbott also won an urban county, Tarrant, home to Fort Worth and did well in the suburban counties of the Texas Triangle, winning Brazoria, Galveston, and Montgomery counties around Houston; Comal and Guadalupe around San Antonio; Collin, Denton, Ellis, Kaufman, and Rockwall in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex; and Williamson in Greater Austin.
In DFW and Austin specifically, Republican strength had declined somewhat in these metros, with Abbott carrying Collin, Denton, Tarrant, and Williamson by 10.07%, 12.81%, 4.11%, and 0.62% respectively, down from his margins of 19.48%, 20.60%, 10.64%, and 10.71% from 2018. Excluding the largest metro areas, Abbott improved on his 2018 margins.
O'Rourke, despite his loss, did best in most of Texas's urban centers. He carried Travis, home to the state capital Austin, his best performance in the state; El Paso, his home county, 63.4%-35%; Dallas ; Bexar, home to San Antonio ; and Harris, home to Houston. He also carried Hays, a rapidly growing county south of Austin which contains San Marcos and Texas State University along with fast-growing cities of Kyle, and Buda by 54.5%-43.7%. Despite improving on 2018 nominee Lupe Valdez's margins in these counties, he did worse in all of them compared to his Senate campaign in 2018, and, excluding Travis and Hays, worse than Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential race. The only county O'Rourke flipped was suburban Fort Bend outside Houston, which voted for Abbott by 0.2% in 2018, but voted for O'Rourke by 4.68% in this election.
Outside the Texas Triangle and Trans Pecos, the only other area O'Rourke won was heavily Hispanic South Texas along the U.S. border with Mexico. His performance was worse than Valdez's and his own from 2018, which continued the trend of rural Hispanic voters away from the Democrats towards Republicans, but he did outperform Biden from 2020. Counties that voted for Biden by single digits like Duval, Starr, and Maverick ; voted for O'Rourke 11.02%, 17.85%, and 17.68% respectively. Despite this improvement from the 2020 presidential race, Abbott flipped two heavily Hispanic counties, Zapata and Culberson.
Exit polls according to NBC News showed Abbott winning male and female voters, whites, and other races, voters over 45, college graduates and non-college graduates, and voters who denied the results of the 2020 presidential election. O'Rourke won black voters, Latinos, Asians, voters between 18 and 44, Independents and moderates.
Fox News Voter Analysis exit polls showed Abbott winning male and female voters ; whites and other races and ethnicities ; voters over 45 ; college graduates, non-college graduates ; white men ; white women. O'Rourke won African Americans, Latinos ; African American men ; African American women Latino men and Latina women.