Dallas closes out the convention

Republicans gathered Thursday for the second and final night of their midterm convention in Dallas. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott spoke as part of the home-state lineup.

Common sense versus crazy

Abbott framed the election as a choice between two worldviews, pointing to Texas laws on border security, voting, school choice and energy as examples Democrats oppose.

“common sense and crazy”

Land bans on three countries

He touted signing laws that block Russia, China and Iran from buying land in Texas, one of the planks he used to argue the state acts while Washington stalls.

The Sharia law pledge

Abbott told the crowd Texas would not wait for federal action, promising a full state ban. He also pointed to his order labeling the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR terrorist organizations.

“We are not waiting on Washington, D.C. We will fully ban Sharia Law in Texas.”

The order is being challenged

A lawsuit has been filed over that designation. The State Department has not designated CAIR a foreign terrorist organization, though it has named the Sudanese and Lebanese Muslim Brotherhood.

Affordability cuts both ways

He accused Texas Democrats of gaslighting voters on affordability, a top issue in polls. Abbott has campaigned on it too, from scrapping school property taxes to capping drug costs.

“The Democrats running on the ticket in Texas, they're gaslighting the public about affordability”