McNeely: McConaughey for governor? | Opinion | news-journal.com – Longview News-Journal

Could Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey displace Republican Gov. Greg Abbotts bid in 2022 for a third four-year term?

According to a Dallas Morning News/University of Texas at Tyler poll taken April 6-13, in a choice between McConaughey, Abbott and an unnamed someone else, the actor got 45% to Abbotts 33%, with 22% for someone else.

Of the 1,126 poll respondents, 37% identified themselves as Republican, 30% as Democrats, and 33% with no party affiliation. The polls margin of error is plus or minus 2.92%.

Abbotts job approval rating was 50% among all respondents, with 36% disapproving and 15% saying neither.

McConaughey got the support of 66% of the Democrats against Abbott and a third party, 44% of independents, and 30% of Republicans.

The actor has said hed be a fool not to at least consider the possibility of running for governor of his home state.

But McConaughey has yet to say which partys banner hed run under, if any, describing himself as an aggressive centrist.

Im a Meet You in the Middle man, he told the Austin American-Statesman in March. He said no single party has exclusive ownership of various political issues and virtues.

Other interesting information turned up by the poll of Texans included that Democratic President Joe Biden has a 52-41 job approval rating.

On abortion, more than half of Texans oppose U.S. Supreme Court repeal of the 1973 landmark Roe v. Wade decision that largely left it to women to decide whether they want to carry a pregnancy to term. Opponents of repeal were 61%; 37% wanted it done away with.

House Bill 1927, to allow carrying a handgun in Texas without a permit or training, was passed 87-58 by the Texas House on April 16. But in the recent poll of Texans, 58% are against it, while 26% favor it.

The bill must pass the Senate before it can go to the governor for approval or disapproval.

But Senate presiding officer, Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, has said the bill doesnt have enough votes to clear that body, and Abbott declined to say his attitude toward the bill until it reaches his desk.

Congress 6 replacement: The May 1 special election to fill the Congressional District 6 seat in southeast Tarrant County, including most of Arlington and Mansfield, and all of Ellis and Navarro counties south of Dallas County, has drawn 23 candidates.

The vacancy was due to the Feb. 7 death of Republican U.S. Rep. Ron Wright from COVID-19.

The 11 Republicans running include Wrights widow Susan, a longtime Republican Party activist, thought to be leading the pack a few weeks ago.

But another GOP candidate is state Rep. Jake Ellzey of Waxahachie, who won his Texas House seat last year after losing a Republican primary runoff to Wright in 2018.

Among the 10 Democratic contenders is Jana Sanchez, who won the 2018 Democratic primary runoff, but lost in November to Ron Wright.

There is also a Libertarian candidate and an Independent.

A runoff is expected, since none of the 23 candidates are likely to top the 50% necessary to avoid one.

The earliest date for which the runoff can be set by Gov. Greg Abbott is May 24.

The runoff winner will begin serving upon being declared, but will immediately face a crowded re-election battle.

Several of the losing candidates May 1 will probably likely just continue running for the 2022 election in the Republican district trending Democratic.

And, this is slated to be the once-a-decade redistricting of legislative and congressional districts.

The U.S. Census Bureau reported figures Monday of the 2020 U.S. headcount. Texas will pick up two new congressional districts from other states for the 2022 election year, due to population shifts. Texas is the only state to gain more than one.

That will boost the number of Texas districts from 36 to 38, which probably will scramble districts in urban areas.

Its entirely likely that some of the candidates may not live in District 6 after the redistricting, but thats OK.

To run for Congress, a candidate just has to be at least 25, a U. S. citizen and a resident of the state. Thats it.

In fact, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram checked candidate data, and found eight candidates four Democrats, three Republicans and the lone Libertarian dont reside within the districts boundaries.

But some did, or have worked in the district for years,

So, some with an eye on a seat in Congress: this might be an ending or a continuation or a beginning.

Let the political contests continue.

Dave McNeely is an Austin-based columnist who covers Texas politics. His column appears Thursday.

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McNeely: McConaughey for governor? | Opinion | news-journal.com - Longview News-Journal