Last year, Abbott refused to give public schools a major raise without passing a voucher program. His tone was more conciliatory after Election Day.

Randy Halprin was a member of a gang of prisoners known as the “Texas 7” who escaped from custody and killed an Irving police officer in 2000.

Republican judges won in 25 out of 26 contested races throughout the state in a show of the party’s broader strength up and down Tuesday’s ballot.