Abbott wins big on election night

Gov. Greg Abbott's name wasn't on the ballot Tuesday, but he was the big winner.

Driving the news: Five of 10 Abbott-endorsed challengers defeated incumbents while three others forced runoffs.

Why it matters: Abbott spent more than $6 million between late January and late February against Texas House Republicans who defied him on school vouchers , and last night's results show Abbott's power to shape the Texas Republican Party.

What they're saying: "I'm concerned with what's going to happen at the state Capitol next year," Rep. Steve Allison, R-San Antonio, told KSAT as it became clear that he had lost to Abbott-backed challenger Marc LaHood. "These were quality representatives targeted by the governor. And what he did is inexcusable."

Between the lines: The results also underscored the power of personal grievance politics in the Age of Trump as House Speaker Dade Phelan heads to a May runoff election.

• Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick both targeted Phelan, a fellow Republican.
• Paxton wanted to punish Phelan for encouraging House Republicans to impeach him on corruption allegations while Patrick has long bitterly feuded with Phelan.

By the numbers: Challenger David Covey, an oil and gas consultant and party activist, received 46.3% of the vote and Phelan got 43.2%, according to unofficial results .

• "Let this runoff be a rallying cry for all conservatives across Texas," Paxton said in a statement . "We must continue to stand firm against the liberal agenda represented by Dade Phelan and his allies."
• In addition to Paxton and Patrick's endorsements, Covey received the support of former President Trump and Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller.

Yes but: Republican Rep. Jeff Leach of Plano easily won re-election.

• Paxton targeted Leach after he gave an emotional closing argument in Paxton's impeachment trial, urging senators to convict him.
• Abbott endorsed Leach.

Meanwhile: Paxton ousted three Texas Court of Criminal Appeals judges he targeted over a 2021 ruling that stripped his ability to single-handedly prosecute voter fraud. The bottom line: When Abbott's push to pass school vouchers fell short, he warned lawmakers he would remake the Legislature to extract victories in the 2025 legislative session.

• Targeted incumbents were made miserable by the governor's aggressive campaigning, which saw him make more than 50 campaign stops since mid-January, per a Houston Chronicle tally .

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