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U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz said at an event Wednesday night that he will vote for Gov. Greg Abbott over at least two notable challengers in next years Republican primary, prompting boos from a conservative activist crowd.

Abbott, who served as attorney general before moving into the governors mansion, appointed Cruz as solicitor general the states top appellate lawyer shortly after taking office in 2003. Cruz credited Abbott for launching his political career with that appointment, while also citing the governors endorsement of his 2016 presidential campaign.

I can tell you very, very simply, if it were not for Greg Abbott, I wouldnt be in the U.S. Senate, Cruz told attendees at a meeting of the True Texas Project, a tea party group in Tarrant County. So listen, I understand there are a lot of folks here who have concerns about some of the things Greg Abbotts done. But I gotta say, as for me, Im going to vote for Greg Abbott, and to be honest, I think Id be a disloyal jackass if I didnt vote for him given two decades of our working side-by-side.

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Cruzs comments elicited boos from the crowd and drew pushback from Julie McCarty, CEO of the True Texas Project, who appeared onstage wearing a shirt in support of Abbotts primary opponent, former state Sen. Don Huffines.

I would encourage Sen. Cruz to hold Gov. Abbott accountable and then do whatever step comes next, McCarty said.

Abbott also is being challenged by former Texas Republican Party chairman Allen West, who like Huffines has criticized Abbott for the measures he enforced earlier in the pandemic to stem the spread of COVID-19.

McCartys group, previously known as the Northeast Tarrant Tea Party, has its own deep ties to Cruz, backing his insurgent 2012 Senate primary bid over the favored candidate, then-lieutenant governor David Dewhurst. The group is often openly critical of Republican establishment officials, and has come under criticism at times for its incendiary rhetoric.

jasper.scherer@chron.com

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Sen. Ted Cruz backs Gov. Abbott in GOP primary and gets booed by a tea party crowd - Houston Chronicle