AUSTIN (Legal Newsline) – A new poll shows Texas state Sen. Wendy Davis, the Democratic nominee for governor, still trails her Republican rival, Attorney General Greg Abbott, by double digits, although she has gained some ground.
Texas voters favor Abbott over Davis by a 44 percent to 32 percent margin, giving the attorney general a 12-point lead, according to a University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll released on Thursday.
In November, Public Policy Polling reported Abbott had a 50-35 percent advantage over Davis.
An April PPP poll showed 51 percent of voters would select Abbott to Davis’ 37 percent.
“Abbott remains strong and this, in a lot of ways, confirms the strategy that we’ve seen from his camp: Leave well enough alone,” UT/TT poll co-director Jim Henson said in the Texas Tribune. “The Davis campaign seems to be not able to reverse the trend.”
The poll showing Davis still significantly trials Abbott comes only a day after she switched campaign managers.
On Wednesday, Politico reported Karin Johanson was out as campaign manager and would be replaced by Chris Turner.
In the race for lieutenant governor, state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, trails Dan Patrick by a 41-26 percent margin.
Reach David Yates at elections@legalnewsline.com