Gov. Greg Abbott's campaign has made over a quarter-million dollars worth of in-kind contributions in support of state Rep. Drew Springer's campaign for state Senate. Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune Gov. Greg Abbott stayed out of the September special election for a Texas state Senate seat in rural North Texas, content to let his coronavirus response become a flashpoint between two members of his own party. But now that the race is down to a Saturday runoff, Abbott has gone all in. The race pits state Rep. Drew Springer of Muenster against fellow Republican Shelley Luther, the Dallas salon owner who went to jail after defying Abbott’s pandemic orders earlier this year. Ahead of the 2021 legislative session — and the 2022 primary season — Abbott is determined to make an example out of Luther, who has become an avatar of his intraparty detractors.