Greg Abbott got almost a half million more votes than Cruz did. He would have beaten Beta handily. Cruz is just not very likeable.
Cruz isn't likeable, but if Abbott had run against O'Rourke his margin of victory would have been less.
I'm also guessing that if Cruz had run against Valdez, he would have won more easily.
Abbott would have still won, no doubt. But the margin wouldnt have been so wide.
Beeto was able to energize the youth. That was his draw.