Texas Gubernatorial Debate: Uvalde Families Lash Out Against Greg Abbott, Throw Their Support Behind Beto O’Rourke

The Texas gubernatorial elections between Republican incumbent Greg Abbott and Democratic challenger Beto O'Rourke is shaping up as one of the marquee races in the midterms. However, several victims' families of the deadly Uvalde school shooting have flocked to Edinburg, Texas, where the only gubernatorial debate was held and made their presence felt.

According to the Texas Tribune, 35 family members of the 19 children killed in the Uvalde school shooting held a news conference with gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke hours ahead of the debate on Friday. Together, they lambasted the Republican governor for his inaction on gun control measures.

Uvalde Families Lambast 'No Audience Rule' Debate of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Beto O'Rourke

According to the Associated Press, the debate between Greg Abbott and Beto O'Rourke at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley had no audience, something the Democrat criticized his Republican opponent for. O'Rourke claimed that Abbott prohibited a live audience during the debate, something a spokesperson of Abbott denied.

The Democratic candidate, who previously fell short of unseating Senator Ted Cruz by a narrow margin, noted that since the Uvalde families cannot watch the debate, he will carry a card written by the families with him into the venue.

The families reportedly watched the debate at an O'Rourke watch party before heading back home. Kimberly Rubio, whose daughter Lexi Rubio died at Uvalde shooting, said Abbott's alleged audience ban was "extremely disrespectful."

Gloria Cazares, mom of Uvalde shooting victim Jackie Cazares, noted that they "love to be in the audience." However, a spokesperson of Greg Abbott told ABC News that both campaigns agreed to the rules weeks ago and blamed Beto O'Rourke for being a "fraud surrounded by incompetence."

Uvalde Families Give Emotional Plea to Vote Greg Abbott Out

During the press conference, several Uvalde family members spoke and gave emotional speeches. Many did not hold back about the contempt they had for Greg Abbott, whom they said had done little in changing things for children's safety in Texas.

"I went to war and I made it home... My daughter went to school and was murdered in their classroom. I fought for my country overseas and now I'm fighting for changes," veteran Felix Rubio, father of Lexi, said in the press conference.

Gloria Cazares added: "There's nothing that I can do that is going to bring my daughter back. But I'm fighting for the future mom who will one day be in my shoes, who will blame herself for leaving her daughter at school after the morning award ceremony for 18 weeks."

In turn, O'Rourke praised the parents who all rode a bus from Uvalde to get to the debate area. "There's nothing they can do by being here now to get their kids back," O'Rourke said. "They are doing it for your kids and every other child across the state of Texas right now," he added.

Beto O'Rourke and the families are advocating gun safety reform measures, including raising the legal purchasing age from 18 to 21, implementing red-flag laws, and passing a ban on semi-automatic assault weapons.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Beto O'Rourke Shows Supports for Age Limits on Gun Purchases While Meeting With Uvalde Families - From KENS 5