SAN ANGELO, Texas — Gov. Greg Abbott visited San Angelo's Angry Cactus Bar & Grill Friday for a 'Get Out the Vote' rally in support of Texas House District 72 challenger Stormy Bradley.
This is the governor's second visit to San Angelo in February. He spoke at a rally weeks ago at Old Central Firehouse Pizzeria and Taproom to announce his support for Bradley. Thursday, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick also endorsed her.
"I want my constituents to go out and vote for the most conservative candidate for the Texas House of Representatives," Abbott said. "And that's Stormy Bradley."
Bradley said she was grateful for the endorsements from prominent Republicans and agreed with Abbott's label.
"I have known that I’m the most conservative candidate," she said. "And having other conservative strong leaders saying the same thing is a really good feeling."
Bradley and longtime incumbent Rep. Drew Darby are split on a bill that would allow public vouchers for students who wish to attend private schools. Darby voted against adding vouchers to the state's education spending bill in 2023, while Bradley supports the issue being added to a new bill. Darby's supporters lined up across the street from the restaurant holding signs with his name.
"This whole race is about one issue," Darby said Tuesday. "And that issue is taking public dollars and diverting them to private or parochial schools without any accountability, without any transparency or without any open enrollment policy."
Early voting for the primary election began Tuesday and will continue until March 1. Primary election day is March 5.