Abbott boycotts Rangers Opening Day

Texas Governor Greg Abbott will not be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at today’s home opener for the Texas Rangers. Abbott was slated to throw the ceremonial first pitch out at this afternoon’s game — the first regular season game the Rangers will play in their new park with fans in the seats — but has canceled in protest of MLB’s decision to move the MLB All Star Game from Atlanta, Georgia.

MLB announced on Friday, April 2, that they would not hold the 2021 All Star Game in Atlanta, has previously scheduled. This was, MLB said, due to the Georgia legislature passing a bill that Governor Brian Kemp signed which made significant changes to the voting laws of the state. In aggregate, the changes have been criticized as limiting voting access and giving the state legislature the power to overrule or take over responsibility for counting votes from counties, particularly counties with significant minority populations.

Abbott also said that the state will not seek to host any other “MLB special events,” per Evan Grant on Twitter.

Abbott’s letter to the Rangers, dated today, is below: