Democrat Beto O'Rourke and Republican Governor Greg Abbott will debate
Greg Abbott, a Republican running for governor of Texas, and Beto O'Rourke, a Democrat, will square off in the first and probably last debate in the state's gubernatorial race on Friday night.
O'Rourke has an opportunity to narrow the polling gap between him and Abbott during the debate.
With Abbott leading O'Rourke by more than 5 percentage points in most surveys, Texas voters have shown a preference for him.
O'Rourke, who narrowly defeated Republican Sen. Ted Cruz in the 2018 senate election and made a fleeting bid for the presidency in 2020, has garnered widespread attention thanks to the race.
Democrats are optimistic that O'Rourke can unseat the governor's mansion due to his name familiarity and fiery attitude.