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Gov. Greg Abbott attended a fundraiser for his re-election campaign Tuesday night in East Texas, hours after a gunman killed 19 children and two adults at a primary school more than 300 miles away in Uwalde. His campaign says it is postponing all political activities.
Abbott went to fundraising after visiting Taylor County – another part of the state – to study the state’s response to wildfires there. While holding a press conference there, he provided up-to-date information on the shooting with Uwalde that had just taken place.
The news of Abbott’s presence in the fundraiser was first announced by Quorum Report.
“After holding a briefing and press conference on the current forest fires in Taylor County, where he also provided up-to-date information on the situation in Uwalde, the governor did attend a pre-planned event last night at a private home in Walker County,” spokesman Mark Miner told Abbott. statement. “The entire campaign and political activities, including the planned fundraising for tonight, have been postponed until further notice.”
Abbott and other state leaders were due to hold a press conference Wednesday afternoon in Uwalde on the state’s response to the massacre, according to the governor’s office.
Abbott, a prolific fundraiser, is running for a third term against Democratic contender Beto O’Rourke. O’Rourke’s response to the Uwalde shooting includes criticism of Abbott for loosening gun laws in Texas, and O’Rourke called on Abbott to withdraw from the National Arms Association congress this weekend in Houston.
Abbott’s rise to fundraising came when other Texas politicians canceled similar events due to the tragedy. U.S. Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, who represents Uwalde, has canceled a fundraising campaign scheduled for Tuesday night in Austin. A Republican state official, Steve Alison of San Antonio, also turned down a fundraising campaign for Wednesday in Austin.
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