The Megastate G.O.P. Rivalry Between Abbott and DeSantis

Publicly, Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas has not criticized the migrant flights from his state by Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida. Privately, the Florida governors stunt stung the Texas governors team.

AUSTIN, Texas Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida wanted to irritate a set of wealthy, liberal elites when he flew migrants to Marthas Vineyard from Texas, delivering them a slice of the humanitarian crisis simmering along the nations southern border.

But Mr. DeSantiss stunt also annoyed an entirely different group fellow Republicans in Austin, including some of the allies and aides of Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas.

Publicly, Mr. Abbott has not criticized Mr. DeSantiss migrant flights from his state. Every state that wants to help, Im happy for it, said Dave Carney, Mr. Abbotts top campaign strategist.

But privately, the Florida governors gambit stung Mr. Abbotts team. No one in the Texas governors office was given a heads-up that Mr. DeSantis planned to round up migrants in San Antonio, according to people familiar with the matter.

Mr. Abbott had spent months and millions of state tax dollars methodically orchestrating a relocation program that, since April, had bused 11,000 migrants to Washington, New York and Chicago. Mr. DeSantiss adaptation was considerably smaller.

But it immediately put the national spotlight on Mr. DeSantis, garnering headlines and earning him praise from Republicans and condemnation from Democrats. It also led to an investigation by the sheriff in San Antonio and a lawsuit from migrants who said they had been lured onto the planes under false pretenses. Mr. DeSantis grabbed the attention of right-wing America, using Mr. Abbotts tactic, on Mr. Abbotts turf, to bigger and more dramatic effect.