Controversial former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown tweeted out this AI-generated image of Gov. Greg Abbott in a superhero costume after U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett used the insult “Governor Hot Wheels.” Credit: X / @AB84

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott this week moved to reclaim an insulting nickname by officially changing his reelection campaign’s handle on social media platform X to “@GovHotWheels_TX.”

The nickname stems from Abbott’s use of wheelchair. While some of the Republican governor’s detractors have used the insult online for years, it got widespread media attention last spring after U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, drew criticism for using it to mock him during one of her public appearances.

Abbott lost his ability to walk after a tree fell on him while on a jog in 1984. Although the governor’s said he’d do anything to be able to walk again, he’s faced criticism using his time a Texas Supreme Court justice and state attorney general to make it harder for Texans to win lawsuits similar to the one he filed after his injury.

Abbott reportedly received a half-million-dollar legal settlement after his injury that guarantees him a six-figure yearly income for the rest of his life.

Abbott’s embrace of the “Governor Hot Wheels” nickname has been brewing for a while. The governor joked about the insult online mere days after Crockett publicly made it. And, on Valentine’s Day, his campaign account posted a virtual card signed “Governor Hot Wheels.”

The rebranding comes as Abbott seeks an unprecedented fourth term in office. If he wins in November’s general election, he’ll go down as the longest-serving governor in Texas’ history.

State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, is the heavy favorite to emerge from the crowded Democratic primary and challenge Abbott on the ballot.

Early voting runs now until Feb. 27. After that, polls will open again for Election Day, March 3. Bexar County residents can visit the Elections Department’s website to find polling locations and their operating hours.

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Michael Karlis is a multimedia journalist at the San Antonio Current, whose coverage in print and on social media focuses on local and state politics. He is a graduate of American University in Washington,...