Abbott's Revenge -- and Paxton's

Gov. Greg Abbott's name wasn't on the ballot Tuesday, but he was the big winner.

Driving the news: Five of 10 Abbott-endorsed challengers defeated incumbents while three others forced runoffs.

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Why it matters: Abbott spent more than $6 million between late January and late February against Texas House Republicans who defied him on school vouchers, and last night's results show Abbott's power to shape the Texas Republican Party.

Ed Morrissey

Abbott warned Republicans that balked at his school-choice bill that he would make them pay for it -- and he did. Hillary Hickland appears to have shellacked incumbent Hugh Shine by ten points despite a nasty TV ad campaign Shine launched in the last weeks of the race. 

Texas AG Ken Paxton got some revenge through the ballot box as well for the failed attempt to remove him from office. He and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick forced House Speaker Dade Phelan into a runoff in November, and three Paxton recruits won their elections in Texas Court of Criminal Appeals judicial elections. 

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