Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz expressed strong disapproval of outgoing Texas Governor Greg Abbott following his election loss to Gina Hinojosa. Schultz, who has resided in Texas for eight years, celebrated Hinojosa's victory, which marked the first time in over three decades that a Democrat has won the state's governorship.
Schultz posted a two-word message on Instagram, tagging Abbott, stating "Get F***ed." This is not the first time Schultz has publicly criticized Abbott. In February 2022, he condemned Abbott's directive for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to classify medically necessary gender-affirming care for transgender youth as child abuse. "If you think anything about what the POS [Greg Abbott] is doing about Trans kids in Texas is ok or justified, please unfollow me," Schultz wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
He also responded to a tweet from Abbott in July 2022 that attributed the deaths of migrants to President Joe Biden. Schultz commented, "Never heard of a good leader who points fingers, Greg."
Hinojosa's win represents a significant shift in Texas politics, as she becomes the state's first Latina governor and the first Democrat to hold the office since Ann Richards in the 1990s. Her victory was part of a broader Democratic success in Texas, which included James Talarico defeating Republican Ken Paxton for a U.S. Senate seat.
Abbott, a prominent Republican governor and supporter of former President Donald Trump, was seeking a fourth term. Trump publicly criticized Abbott following the loss, labeling him a "RINO" (Republican in name only) and suggesting his campaign strategy was unsuccessful.
Schultz, originally from Utah, graduated from Stanford University in 2017. He joined the Texans in 2023 after playing four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, who drafted him in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. This season, he has recorded 33 receptions for 322 yards and no touchdowns for the 2-5 Texans.