At the Texas Republican State Convention in the George R. Brown Convention Center, Texas Governor Greg Abbott embraced the old insult 'Governor Hot Wheels,' with the phrase prominently displayed on placards and electronic message boards. The 'hot wheels' nickname was coined last year by Democratic U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, which was pilloried by Republicans because it seemed to mock Abbott's use of a wheelchair since the mid-1980s, when a tree fell on him. Attorney General Ken Paxton called the remark 'despicable,' while Sen. John Cornyn described it as 'shameful.' Houston Chronicle
Governor Abbott also brought to life the Republican Party's symbol, the elephant, by arranging for a real, live elephant to lumber onto the convention hall stage draped in a white cloth carrying the 'Unity Drives Victory' slogan.