Trump Endorses Don Huffines and Sid Miller, Bucking Abbott

The former president's backing of the comptroller and agriculture commissioner candidates could signal limits to his hold on the Texas GOP base.

Feb. 28, 2026 at 3:55am

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President Donald Trump has endorsed several GOP primary candidates who are opposed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, including former state Sen. Don Huffines for comptroller and Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller for re-election. Trump described Abbott as 'one of the great governors of our country,' but his endorsements against the governor's favored candidates in these races could signal that there are still limits to his hold on the party's base.

Why it matters

The comptroller's race has high stakes for Abbott because the agency controls the state's purse strings and is rolling out the new $1 billion private school voucher program, the governor's signature education policy. Trump's endorsements against Abbott's favored candidates in these races could undermine the governor's efforts to shape the 2024 primaries and pursue his fourth-term agenda.

The details

Trump backed Huffines, a former state senator from Dallas who ran against Abbott in 2022 and took credit for pushing the governor rightward on culture war issues, as well as the three-term incumbent Miller, who has long maintained close ties to Trump but was among the conservatives who sued Abbott for extending early voting periods during the COVID crisis in 2020. Miller briefly considered challenging the governor in the 2022 GOP primary and has recently come under fire from fellow GOP officials, including Abbott, who accused him of a 'history of corruption.'

  • Trump announced his endorsements on his Truth Social platform on Friday, February 27, 2026.
  • The Texas GOP primary election is scheduled for March 3, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States who is backing several GOP primary candidates in Texas who are opposed by Governor Greg Abbott.

Greg Abbott

The Republican governor of Texas whose favored candidates in the comptroller and agriculture commissioner races are being challenged by Trump's endorsements.

Don Huffines

A former state senator from Dallas who is running for Texas comptroller and has been endorsed by Trump.

Sid Miller

The three-term incumbent Texas agriculture commissioner who has been endorsed by Trump for re-election.

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What they’re saying

“He's an unbelievable guy, a tremendous friend of mine, and he is something very special. He's tough as hell. I want to tell you -- you think he's a nice guy, you're wrong. He's tough. He's mean. But it's all for you.”

— Donald Trump (Houston Chronicle)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.