Abilene Times

Texas gubernatorial candidate Don Huffines criticized opponent Gov. Greg Abbott (R) for failing to prevent vaccination mandates in Texas. 

According to Texas Scorecard, prior to President Joe Biden's vaccine mandate for federal contractors and large employers being struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court, Texas service members were already being required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine or face discharge or loss of pay. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton then filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration in response, stating that forcing vaccinations are "one of the many examples of federal overreach by the Biden administration."

"Those who answer the call to serve our state deserve respect, and they deserve a leader who protects their rights, liberty and dignity," Huffines told the Abilene Times. "Greg Abbott has failed to defend the rights of Texans. He has failed to stop vaccine mandates in Texas. It’s time for leadership, no excuses."

In August 2021, Abbott issued an executive order that banned “governmental entities” from requiring people to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, allowing exceptions for nursing homes, state-supported independent living facilities and private Texas businesses, which could still require vaccines of their employees or customers, according to The Texas Tribune. 

"Private businesses don't need government running their business,” Abbott's spokesman Renae Eze said, confirming the option to mandate vaccinations.

In October 2021, Abbott issued an executive order banning any entity in Texas from requiring COVID-19 vaccinations, including private business personnel “who (object) to such vaccination for any reason of personal conscience, based on a religious belief or for medical reasons, including prior recovery from COVID-19," repealing his stance from earlier, according to Executive Order No. GA-40.

According to Bloomberg, the order was considered a “change of heart” by Abbott that “may have been motivated by a party primary taking place in March, in which he’ll take on two challengers who consistently attack him from the right, former state Sen. Don Huffines and Allen West, an ex-Florida congressman."

Huffines will face Abbott in the gubernatorial primary on Tuesday, March 1. From 2015 to 2019, he represented Texas' 16th State Senate District. Huffines is the CEO of Huffines Communities, a Dallas/Fort Worth-based real estate development firm.

Elected in 2014, Abbott is currently serving as the 48th governor of Texas. Before being elected governor, Abbott was the longest-serving attorney general of Texas.