Beto O'Rourke looks to put Greg Abbott on defense in early stages of Texas governor's race

Days after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott officially launched his campaign for a third term by touting his hardline border policies and gaining the support of law enforcement groups, Democratic frontrunner Beto O'Rourke sought to refocus the race on human issues.

Speaking with reporters on a conference call Thursday, the former El Paso congressman hammered Abbott for his response to the two-year COVID-19 crisis and the continued vulnerabilities of Texas' electricity grid.

"We need a governor who cares about the people of this state, cares about the mayors who are serving the...