Gov. Greg Abbott has endorsed Nate Sheets in the 2026 Republican primary for Texas agriculture commissioner, setting up a high-profile contest against incumbent Sid Miller, a fellow statewide elected Republican. The endorsement highlights years of political tension between Abbott and Miller and underscores broader divisions within the Texas GOP over governance style, policy priorities, and loyalty.
Abbott announced his support for Sheets on X, describing him as “a principled leader, who is committed to fighting for the best interests of Texas agriculture, upholding the rule of law, and restoring integrity to the Office of the Commissioner.”
“Texans deserve an Agriculture Commissioner who is focused on promoting Texas Agriculture, with zero tolerance for criminality,” Abbott said. “Nate Sheets is the true conservative champion for the job and is the leader we need to keep Texas the global powerhouse in agriculture.”
The endorsement was reinforced by Abbott’s campaign operation. Texans for Greg Abbott campaign manager Kim Snyder said Sheets is “the only candidate in the race who has the integrity to lead the Texas Department of Agriculture.”
Snyder also criticized Miller directly, stating, “The current Texas Department of Agriculture commissioner has a history of corruption and, as a state legislator, he previously voted to grant in-state tuition for illegal immigrants.”
A Long-Running Rift
Abbott’s decision to back a challenger comes after several years of public disagreements with Miller, who has often taken positions at odds with the governor. Their most visible conflict began in 2020, when Miller joined a lawsuit against Abbott and then-Secretary of State Ruth Hughs over the extension of early voting during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The relationship further deteriorated in April 2022, when Miller sharply criticized Abbott’s directive for enhanced vehicle inspections at the Texas-Mexico border. At the time, Miller warned the policy would have economic consequences.
“You cannot solve a border crisis by creating another crisis at the border,” Miller said. “These Level 1 inspections serve as a ‘clog in the drain’ and divert commerce and jobs to more western ports of entry.”
Miller later sought to ease tensions, telling supporters that policy disagreements are a normal part of democratic government.
“I’ll keep calling out Governor Abbott’s policies when we disagree, but I will never forget which team we both play for…yours,” Miller said.
However, clashes continued. In August 2022, Miller publicly questioned the stability of Texas’ power grid, arguing there were “cozy relationships between regulators and industry, too much reliance on low capacity alternative energy, and profit seeking at the expense of safety and security such as winterizing natural gas infrastructure.”
Abbott’s camp responded forcefully, defending the state’s energy reforms.
“Anyone who says the Texas electric grid is not secure is not aware of how well it’s performed under recent record-breaking weather we’ve experienced as a result of the reforms passed by the legislature and signed into law by Governor Abbott,” Abbott’s camp said.
Political Isolation and Speculation
Miller has long suggested that his disagreements with Abbott have come at a political cost. He said Abbott had “threatened the lobby” against contributing to his campaigns.
“I didn’t raise a dime from anywhere in Austin last election. He made sure that he cut all that off. I still haven’t got a meeting with him in 10 years. Still haven’t gotten a phone call returned,” Miller said.
At various points, Miller was rumored to be considering higher office. In 2022, speculation circulated that he might challenge Abbott for governor, though he never entered that race. In 2024, Miller, a longtime ally of President Donald Trump, was rumored to be under consideration for a senior position at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but he did not receive the appointment.
A High-Stakes Primary Ahead
Abbott’s endorsement of Sheets formalizes what had already been an increasingly adversarial relationship between the governor and the agriculture commissioner. While Miller has positioned himself as an independent voice willing to criticize Republican leadership, Abbott and his allies have framed the race as a choice about integrity, unity, and the direction of the Texas Department of Agriculture.
With the 2026 Republican primary still ahead, the contest is likely to serve as a test of influence within the party, pitting an incumbent with strong name recognition against a challenger backed by the governor and his political operation. The outcome could signal how Republican voters weigh loyalty, policy disagreements, and leadership style in statewide races.
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