At Gov. Abbott’s watch party in downtown Austin, most of the enthusiasm was for the band playing hits from the 1970s and 1980s like “My Sharona” and “Footloose.” As the crowd was coralled to the stage from the bar and buffet area at the club Speakeasy, all awaiting Abbott to address the crowd, many expressed surprise at the nightlong lead Hinojosa had over the incumbent governor. Houston Realtor Jennifer Jacks, 52, believes it was Paxton who is dragging the vote down for Abbott. She said she likes Paxton and voted for him, adding that people make mistakes but she thinks the opposition to Paxton has been a major obstacle for Republicans. “I think it’s the whole Paxton thing,” she said. “And Trump haters.”