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Greg Abbott

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Greg Abbott
Candidate, Governor of Texas
Governor of Texas
Tenure
2015 - Present
Term ends
2027
Years in position
11
Predecessor: Rick Perry (R)
Prior offices:
Attorney General of Texas
Years in office: 2002 - 2015

Texas Supreme Court Place 5
Years in office: 1996 - 2004

Texas 129th District Court
Years in office: 1993 - 1996

Compensation
Base salary
$153,750
Elections and appointments
Last election
March 3, 2026
Next election
November 3, 2026
Education
Bachelor's
University of Texas, 1981
Law
Vanderbilt University, 1984
Personal
Religion
Christian: Catholic
Profession
Attorney
Contact

Greg Abbott (Republican Party) is the Governor of Texas. He assumed office on January 20, 2015. His current term ends on January 19, 2027.

Abbott (Republican Party) is running for re-election for Governor of Texas. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2026. He advanced from the Republican primary on March 3, 2026.

Abbott was born in Wichita Falls, Texas, in 1957. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor's degree in finance and later earned a law degree from Vanderbilt University. Shortly after graduating from law school, Abbott was paralyzed from the waist down when a tree fell on him while jogging.[1]

Abbott worked in private practice as an attorney from 1984 to 1992. He then served as a judge on the 129th District Court in Houston from 1993 to 1995. In 1996, Governor George W. Bush (R) appointed Abbott to the Texas Supreme Court, where he served until 2001. Abbott first held elected office when he won election as the attorney general of Texas in 2002 by a margin of 15.6 percentage points. He won re-election in 2006 by 22.6 percentage points and in 2010 by 30.4 percentage points.

As attorney general, Abbot argued on behalf of Texas before the Supreme Court of the United States in defense of a Ten Commandments statue on the grounds of the state's capitol.[2] He also filed more than 30 lawsuits against the federal government during Barack Obama's (D) presidency, including challenges to an executive order related to deferred action, the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, and EPA regulations.[3]

Abbott was elected governor in 2014 after defeating Wendy Davis (D) 59.3%-38.9%. He was re-elected in 2018 after defeating Lupe Valdez (D) 55.8%-42.5%. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Abbott used executive orders to prohibit local governments and state agencies from mandating vaccines or face masks.[4] Central issues in his campaign for re-election in 2022 were his administration's response to a power grid crisis following a February 2021 winter storm and the May 2022 Uvalde school shooting.[5] Abbott defeated Democratic challenger Beto O'Rourke 54.8%-43.9% to win a third consecutive term as governor in 2022.

As governor, Abbott signed a six-week abortion ban into law that allows for exceptions in the case of medical emergencies, as well as a package of new firearm laws, including legislation that allows the legal carry of handguns without a license and a bill that prevents state officials from assisting federal officials in enforcing federal firearm laws.[6][7] He also signed a bill allocating $1.54 billion for construction of barriers along the southern border.[8] In 2021, he launched Operation Lone Star, deploying the Texas National Guard and the Texas Department of Public Safety to the border.[9]

In October and November 2023, Abbott sent lawmakers into emergency sessions to pass measures related to school choice. [10] After legislators did not pass a bill during either session, Abbott endorsed candidates in the 2024 Republican primary challenging Republican incumbents who had not supported school voucher legislation. Six of the eight Abbott-supported challengers defeated incumbents who had previously opposed vouchers.[11]

In July 2025, Abbott announced that the Legislature would take up redistricting during a special legislative session.[12] In August, Democratic legislators left the state to deny the House the quorum required to vote to amend the state's congressional maps.[13] Following the end of the special session on August 15 and Democrats' return on August 18, Abbott called a second special session.[14][15] The new congressional maps, which shifted five Democratic districts toward Republicans, passed the state House and state Senate on August 20 and August 23, respectively. Abbott signed the new map into law on August 29, making Texas the first state to redraw its congressional map ahead of the 2026 elections.[16]

Biography

Abbott was born in Wichita Falls, Texas, on November 13, 1957.[17] He graduated with a B.B.A. in finance from the University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. from the Vanderbilt University. Abbott was paralyzed in 1984 and uses a wheelchair.[18]

Abbott worked in private practice as an attorney at Butler and Binion LLP from 1984 to 1992. He served as a district court judge in Houston from 1993 to 1995 and justice on the Supreme Court of Texas from 1996 to 2001. He then held elected office, first as the attorney general of Texas from 2002 to 2015, an then as the governor of Texas, beginning in 2015.[19]

Political career

Below is a list of offices within Ballotpedia’s scope. Offices outside of that scope will not be listed. If an update is needed and the office is within our scope, please contact us.

Abbott's political career includes the following offices:

Elections

2026

See also: Texas gubernatorial election, 2026

General election

The primary will occur on April 12, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

General election for Governor of Texas

Incumbent Greg Abbott (R), Gina Hinojosa (D), and Jenn Mack Raphoon (Independent) are running in the general election for Governor of Texas on November 3, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Greg Abbott
Greg Abbott (R)
Image of Gina Hinojosa
Gina Hinojosa (D)
Image of Jenn Mack Raphoon
Jenn Mack Raphoon (Independent)  Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

Democratic primary for Governor of Texas

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Governor of Texas on March 3, 2026.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Gina Hinojosa
Gina Hinojosa
 
59.9
 
1,012,218
Image of Chris Bell
Chris Bell
 
9.6
 
163,007
Image of Angela Villescaz
Angela Villescaz  Candidate Connection
 
6.5
 
109,308
Patricia Abrego
 
5.5
 
92,840
Image of Andrew White
Andrew White  Candidate Connection
 
5.3
 
89,383
Image of Bobby Cole
Bobby Cole
 
5.2
 
87,284
Image of Jose Navarro Balbuena
Jose Navarro Balbuena
 
2.9
 
48,395
Carlton Hart
 
2.7
 
45,559
Image of Zach Vance
Zach Vance
 
2.5
 
41,637

Total votes: 1,689,631
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

Republican primary for Governor of Texas

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Governor of Texas on March 3, 2026.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Greg Abbott
Greg Abbott
 
82.4
 
1,457,558
Image of Pete Chambers
Pete Chambers  Candidate Connection
 
10.9
 
192,863
Image of Evelyn Brooks
Evelyn Brooks
 
2.0
 
35,560
Arturo Espinosa
 
1.0
 
18,278
Image of Charles Crouch
Charles Crouch
 
0.7
 
12,185
Image of Kenneth Hyde
Kenneth Hyde  Candidate Connection
 
0.7
 
11,981
Nathaniel Welch
 
0.5
 
9,562
Image of Stephen Samuelson
Stephen Samuelson  Candidate Connection
 
0.5
 
8,484
Image of Ronnie Tullos
Ronnie Tullos  Candidate Connection
 
0.5
 
8,052
Image of Mark Goloby
Mark Goloby  Candidate Connection
 
0.5
 
8,035
Image of R.F. Achgill
R.F. Achgill
 
0.4
 
7,139

Total votes: 1,769,697
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Libertarian Party convention

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

Libertarian convention for Governor of Texas

Pat Dixon (L) is running in the Libertarian Party convention for Governor of Texas on April 12, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Pat Dixon
Pat Dixon

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Campaign finance

Endorsements

Abbott received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.

2022

See also: Texas gubernatorial election, 2022

General election

General election for Governor of Texas

The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Texas on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Greg Abbott
Greg Abbott (R)
 
54.8
 
4,437,099
Image of Beto O'Rourke
Beto O'Rourke (D)
 
43.9
 
3,553,656
Image of Mark Tippetts
Mark Tippetts (L) Candidate Connection
 
1.0
 
81,932
Image of Delilah Barrios
Delilah Barrios (G)
 
0.4
 
28,584
Image of Jacqueline Abernathy
Jacqueline Abernathy (Independent) (Write-in) Candidate Connection
 
0.0
 
1,243
Image of Mark Goloby
Mark Goloby (Independent) (Write-in) Candidate Connection
 
0.0
 
394

Total votes: 8,102,908
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Texas

Beto O'Rourke defeated Joy Diaz, Michael Cooper, Rich Wakeland, and Inocencio Barrientez in the Democratic primary for Governor of Texas on March 1, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Beto O'Rourke
Beto O'Rourke
 
91.4
 
983,182
Image of Joy Diaz
Joy Diaz Candidate Connection
 
3.1
 
33,622
Image of Michael Cooper
Michael Cooper
 
3.0
 
32,673
Image of Rich Wakeland
Rich Wakeland Candidate Connection
 
1.2
 
13,237
Inocencio Barrientez
 
1.2
 
12,887

Total votes: 1,075,601
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Texas

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Governor of Texas on March 1, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Greg Abbott
Greg Abbott
 
66.5
 
1,299,059
Image of Allen B. West
Allen B. West Candidate Connection
 
12.3
 
239,557
Image of Donald Huffines
Donald Huffines
 
12.0
 
234,138
Image of Chad Prather
Chad Prather
 
3.8
 
74,173
Rick Perry
 
3.1
 
61,424
Image of Kandy Kaye Horn
Kandy Kaye Horn Candidate Connection
 
1.2
 
23,605
Paul Belew
 
0.6
 
11,387
Image of Daniel Harrison
Daniel Harrison Candidate Connection
 
0.6
 
10,829

Total votes: 1,954,172
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Green convention

Green convention for Governor of Texas

Delilah Barrios advanced from the Green convention for Governor of Texas on April 9, 2022.

Candidate
Image of Delilah Barrios
Delilah Barrios (G)

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for Governor of Texas

Mark Tippetts defeated Fidel Castillo in the Libertarian convention for Governor of Texas on April 10, 2022.


Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Campaign finance

2018

See also: Texas gubernatorial election, 2018

General election

General election for Governor of Texas

Incumbent Greg Abbott defeated Lupe Valdez and Mark Tippetts in the general election for Governor of Texas on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Greg Abbott
Greg Abbott (R)
 
55.8
 
4,656,196
Image of Lupe Valdez
Lupe Valdez (D)
 
42.5
 
3,546,615
Image of Mark Tippetts
Mark Tippetts (L)
 
1.7
 
140,632

Total votes: 8,343,443
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary runoff election

Democratic primary runoff for Governor of Texas

Lupe Valdez defeated Andrew White in the Democratic primary runoff for Governor of Texas on May 22, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Lupe Valdez
Lupe Valdez
 
53.0
 
224,091
Image of Andrew White
Andrew White
 
47.0
 
198,407

Total votes: 422,498
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Texas

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Governor of Texas on March 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Lupe Valdez
Lupe Valdez
 
42.9
 
435,484
Image of Andrew White
Andrew White
 
27.4
 
278,333
Image of Cedric Davis
Cedric Davis
 
8.3
 
83,817
Image of Grady Yarbrough
Grady Yarbrough
 
5.4
 
54,372
Jeffrey Payne
 
4.8
 
48,269
Image of Adrian Ocegueda
Adrian Ocegueda
 
4.4
 
44,681
Image of Thomas Wakely
Thomas Wakely
 
3.4
 
34,737
James Clark
 
2.2
 
21,871
Joe Mumbach
 
1.4
 
13,878

Total votes: 1,015,442
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Texas

Incumbent Greg Abbott defeated Barbara Krueger and Larry SECEDE Kilgore in the Republican primary for Governor of Texas on March 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Greg Abbott
Greg Abbott
 
90.4
 
1,389,562
Barbara Krueger
 
8.3
 
127,134
Image of Larry SECEDE Kilgore
Larry SECEDE Kilgore
 
1.3
 
20,384

Total votes: 1,537,080
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2014

See also: Texas gubernatorial election, 2014

Primary election

Texas Gubernatorial Republican Primary, 2014
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngGreg Abbott 91.5% 1,224,014
Lisa Fritsch 4.4% 59,221
Miriam Martinez 2.7% 35,585
SECEDE Kilgore 1.4% 19,055
Total Votes 1,337,875
Election results via Texas Secretary of State.

General election

Governor of Texas, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngGreg Abbott 59.3% 2,796,547
     Democratic Wendy Davis 38.9% 1,835,596
     Libertarian Kathie Glass 1.4% 66,543
     Green Brandon Parmer 0.4% 18,520
     Write-in Sarah Pavitt 0% 1,062
Total Votes 4,718,268
Election results via Texas Secretary of State

2010

See also: Texas Attorney General election, 2010

Abbott was elected attorney general of Texas in 2010. He ran unopposed in the Republican primary.

Texas Attorney General, 2010
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngGreg Abbott Incumbent 64.1% 3,151,064
     Democratic Barbara Ann Radnofsky 33.7% 1,655,859
     Libertarian Jon Roland 2.3% 112,118
Total Votes 4,919,041
Election results via Texas Secretary of State


2006

On November 7, 2006, Greg Abbott won re-election to the office of Texas Attorney General. He defeated David Van Os (D) and Jon Roland (L) in the general election.

Texas Attorney General, 2006
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngGreg Abbott Incumbent 59.5% 2,556,063
     Democratic David Van Os 37.2% 1,599,069
     Libertarian Jon Roland 3.3% 139,668
Total Votes 4,294,800
Election results via Texas Secretary of State.


2002

Abbott was elected attorney general of Texas in 2002. He ran unopposed in the Republican primary.

Texas Attorney General, 2002
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngGreg Abbott Incumbent 56.7% 2,542,184
     Democratic Kirk Watson 41.1% 1,841,359
     Libertarian Jon Roland 1.3% 56,880
     Green David Keith Cobb 0.9% 41,560
Total Votes 4,481,983
Election results via Texas Secretary of State

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

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You can ask Greg Abbott to fill out this survey by using the buttons below or emailing info@gregabbott.com.

Twitter
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2022

Greg Abbott did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign finance summary


Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.


Greg Abbott campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2022Governor of TexasWon general$158,361,651 $242,817,509
2014TX GovernorWon $47,464,245 N/A**
2010TX Attorney GeneralWon $9,794,870 N/A**
2006TX Attorney GeneralWon $10,196,519 N/A**
2002TX Attorney GeneralWon $8,582,552 N/A**
1998TX Supreme CourtWon $1,377,317 N/A**
1996TX Supreme CourtWon $688,318 N/A**
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Notable endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

This section displays endorsements this individual made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope.

Notable candidate endorsements by Greg Abbott
EndorseeElectionStageOutcome
Rob Giesecke  source  (R) Brazoria County Judge (2026)
Shelby Williams  source  (R) Collin County Commissioners Court District 4 (2026) Advanced in Primary
Daniel Wong  source  (R) Fort Bend County Judge (2026) Advanced in Primary
Robin Armstrong  source  (R) Galveston County Commissioner Precinct 4 (2026)
Kenneth Cusick  source  (R) Galveston County Criminal District Attorney (2026)
Mark Henry  source  (R) Galveston County Judge (2026)
Marc Cowart  source  (R) Harris County Treasurer (2026) Advanced in Primary
Geoffrey Tahuahua  source  (R) Hays County Judge (2026)
Tony Tinderholt  source  (R) Tarrant County Commissioners Court Precinct 2 (2026) Advanced in Primary
Manny Ramirez  source  (R) Tarrant County Commissioners Court Precinct 4 (2026) Advanced in Primary
Tim O'Hare  source  (R) Tarrant County Judge (2026) Advanced in Primary
Asha Reddi  source  (R) Texas 240th District Court (2026) Advanced in Primary
Greg Wilhelm  source  (R) Texas 504th District Court (2026)
Michelle Merendino  source  (R) Texas 75th District Court (2026)
Candy Noble  source  (R) Texas House of Representatives District 89 (2026) PrimaryAdvanced in Primary
Victoria Hinojosa  source  (R) Texas State Board of Education District 2 (2026) PrimaryAdvanced in Primary
Chris Gober  source  (R) U.S. House Texas District 10 (2026) PrimaryAdvanced in Primary
John Lujan  source  (R) U.S. House Texas District 35 (2026) PrimaryAdvanced in Primary
Briscoe Cain  source  (R) U.S. House Texas District 9 (2026) PrimaryAdvanced in Primary
Donna Williams  source  (R) Uvalde County Clerk (2026)
Teresa Esther Chapoy  source  (R) Val Verde County Clerk (2026)
David Luther  source  (R) Waller County Commissioner Precinct 2 (2026)
Angela Albers  source  (R) Wood County Criminal District Attorney (2026)
James Granberry  source  (R) Nueces County District Attorney (2024) GeneralWon General
Donald Trump  source  (Conservative Party, R) President of the United States (2024) PrimaryWon General
Stan Gerdes  source  (R) Texas House of Representatives District 17 (2024) PrimaryWon General
Alan Schoolcraft  source  (R) Texas House of Representatives District 44 (2024) PrimaryWon General
Hillary Hickland  source  (R) Texas House of Representatives District 55 (2024) PrimaryWon General
Tony Gonzales  source  (R) U.S. House Texas District 23 (2024) Primary RunoffWon General
Richard Michael DeWine  source  (R) Governor of Ohio (2022) PrimaryWon General
Mayra Flores  source  (R) U.S. House Texas District 34 (2022) GeneralWon General
Ted Cruz  source  (R) President of the United States (2016) PrimaryLost Convention

Noteworthy events

Texas Republican legislative conflicts
Seal of Texas.png
Leadership elections
2025 speaker election
Battleground primaries
2024202220202018
Noteworthy events
Impeachment of Ken Paxton, 2023
Noteworthy individuals
Joe Straus
Speaker, 2008-2018
Dennis Bonnen
Speaker, 2019-2020
Dade Phelan
Speaker, 2021-2024
Greg Abbott
Gov., elected 2014
Dan Patrick
Lt. Gov., elected 2014
Ken Paxton
AG, elected 2022
Noteworthy groups
Empower Texans
Texas Freedom Caucus

Reported as possible 2024 Republican vice presidential nominee

See also: Vice presidential candidates, 2024

Media reports discussed Abbott as a possible 2024 Republican vice presidential candidate.[20] Former President Donald Trump (R) selected U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) as his running mate on July 15, 2024, the first day of the 2024 Republican National Convention.

In 2020, President Joe Biden (D) announced Vice President Kamala Harris (D) as his running mate six days before the start of the Democratic National Convention (DNC). In 2016, both Hillary Clinton (D) and Trump announced their running mates three days before the DNC and RNC, respectively.

Tested positive for coronavirus (2021)

See also: Politicians, candidates, and government officials diagnosed with or quarantined due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

On August 17, 2021, Abbott announced he tested positive for COVID-19. Abbott said he did not have any symptoms. He got a COVID-19 vaccine on live television on December 22, 2020.[21]

Republican state legislative primaries (2018)

Abbott contributed to campaigns against three incumbent Republican legislators who opposed his policies in the March 6, 2018, primaries.

Republican state Reps. Sarah Davis, Wayne Faircloth, and Lyle Larson supported changing state ethics laws, including a Larson-backed proposal to make campaign donors who gave more than $2,500 to the governor ineligible for gubernatorial appointments.[22][23] The three were also allies of retiring House Speaker Joe Straus (R), who came into conflict with Abbott over property tax legislation, a measure to regulate bathroom usage, and an education reform bill in the 2017 special legislative session.

Abbott ran a TV ad in Larson’s district that called the incumbent “Liberal Lyle.” Abbott also spent $161,000 on advertising in Davis' district, including an ad opposing her.

"If the three House primary challengers Gov. Greg Abbott has endorsed lose their races on March 6, it won't be for a lack of trying on the governor's part," Patrick Svitek of The Texas Tribune wrote.[24]

Davis and Larson won their primaries and Faircloth lost to a challenger Mayes Middleton.[25]

Domestic partner benefits opinion (2013)

On April 29, 2013, Abbott issued a legal opinion stating that domestic partner benefits offered by the city of Austin, Travis County, and area school districts were illegal under the Texas Constitution. Texas voters approved the constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages or similar legal statuses in 2005. Abbott's opinion said, “By creating domestic partnerships and offering health benefits based on them, the political subdivisions have created and recognized something not established by Texas law.”[26]

The U.S. Supreme Court's 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges struck down same-sex marriage bans.

Affordable Care Act lawsuit (2010)

See also: State Attorneys General Against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010

Abbott was one of 13 state attorneys general who initiated a 2010 lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The suit argued that the individual mandate fell outside of the federal government’s authority and that the requirement for state Medicaid expansion of coverage violated state sovereignty. The case was ultimately heard before the Supreme Court, which ruled to uphold the individual mandate as falling within Congress’ authority to levy taxes and struck down the Medicaid expansion as being unduly coercive in light of the withholding of funding that would result from noncompliance.[27]

EPA lawsuit (2010)

Abbott filed suit in federal court on February 16, 2010, to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating greenhouse gases. The decision by the EPA to moderate the release of greenhouse gases was based on a review that said carbon dioxide was a danger to public health and contributed to climate change. Abbott, in conjunction with Texas Gov. Rick Perry, objected to the move, arguing that it would place a financial burden on state businesses and homeowners and jeopardize jobs.[28] The D.C. Circuit Court ruled in favor of the EPA in 2012.[29]

Ten Commandments monument case (2005)

In 2002, Thomas Van Orden, a resident of Austin, sued the state of Texas for having a monument of the Ten Commandments located on the grounds of the state capitol building. He said it was a violation of "the First Amendment's establishment clause, which prohibits the government from passing laws 'respecting an establishment of religion.'"

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that the "monument served a valid secular purpose and would not appear to a reasonable observer to represent a government endorsement of religion." Van Orden appealed the decision to the Supreme Court of the United States. Abbott, then the attorney general of Texas, argued before the court that the grounds surrounding the capitol building contained 17 monuments and 21 historical markers commemorating the "people, ideals, and events that compose Texan identity," and that the Commandments were just one of them.

In a 5-4 decision delivered on June 27, 2005, the Supreme Court "deemed the Texas monument part of the nation's tradition of recognizing the Ten Commandments' historical meaning" and, therefore, constitutional. The Ten Commandments being of a religious nature "does not run afoul of the establishment clause," according to the decision.[30]

Ballot measure activity

The following table details Greg Abbott's ballot measure stances available on Ballotpedia:

Ballot measure support and opposition for Greg Abbott
Ballot measure Year Position Status
Texas Proposition 4, Property Tax Changes and State Education Funding Amendment (2023) 2023 Supported[31] Approveda Approved
Texas Proposition 2: Increased Homestead Exemption for School District Property Taxes Amendment 2022 Supported[32] Approved Approveda
Texas Proposition 1: Property Tax Limit Reduction for Elderly and Disabled Residents Amendment 2022 Supported[33] Approved Approveda
Austin Proposition A: Police Policies on Minimum Number of Officers, Training Requirements, and Demographic Representation Initiative 2021 Supported[34] Defeated Defeatedd
Texas Proposition 4: Prohibit State Income Tax on Individuals 2019 Supported[35] Approved Approveda
Texas Proposition 1: Homestead Exemption for School District Property Taxes 2015 Supported[36] Approved Approveda
Texas Proposition 2: Property Tax Exemption for Surviving Spouses of Disabled Veterans 2015 Supported[36] Approved Approveda
Texas Proposition 6: Right to Hunt, Fish and Harvest 2015 Supported[36] Approved Approveda
Texas Proposition 7: Sales and Use Tax Revenue for Transportation 2015 Supported[36] Approved Approveda
Texas Proposition 6: State Water Fund 2013 Supported[37] Approved Approveda

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.

Abbott and his wife, Cecilia, have one daughter.[38]

See also


External links

Footnotes

  1. Office of the Texas Governor Greg Abbott, "Texas Governor Greg Abbott," accessed August 19, 2024
  2. Oyez, "Van Orden v. Perry," accessed August 22, 2024
  3. The Texas Tribune, "Texas vs. the Feds — A Look at the Lawsuits," January 17, 2017
  4. New York Times, "Gov. Greg Abbott bars mandates for vaccinations and masks in Texas," July 31, 2021
  5. The Texas Tribune, "Greg Abbott reelected Texas governor, defeating Beto O’Rourke," November 8, 2022
  6. The Texas Tribune, "Gov. Greg Abbott signs into law one of nation’s strictest abortion measures, banning procedure as early as six weeks into a pregnancy," May 19, 2021
  7. Office of the Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Governor Abbott Signs Second Amendment Legislation Into Law," June 17, 2021
  8. The Texas Tribune, Gov. Greg Abbott signs bill making illegal immigration a state crime," May 24, 2022
  9. Office of the Texas Governor Greg Abbott," "Operation Lone Star," accessed August 23, 2024
  10. Pro Publica, "Texas Is the Largest GOP Stronghold Without Pro-School Voucher Legislation. Gov. Abbott Is on a Crusade to Change That," June 21, 2024
  11. Houston Public Media, "2025 Texas Legislature will have pro-school voucher majority, Abbott says after runoff elections," May 29, 2024
  12. Texas State Government, "PROCLAMATION," accessed July 9, 2025
  13. Associated Press, "Texas Democrats fleeing state to block redistricting vote follows strategy that’s had mixed results," August 3, 2025
  14. Governor of Texas, "Governor Abbott Announces Special Session #2," August 15, 2025
  15. Texas Tribune, "Texas House Democrats return to Capitol, ending walkout over redistricting plan," August 18, 2025
  16. Fox News, "Abbott signs Texas redistricting map into law, securing major GOP victory ahead of 2026 midterms," August 29, 2025
  17. National Governors Association, "Gov. Greg Abbott," accessed May 18, 2021
  18. Greg Abbott, "Why Is Governor Greg Abbott In A Wheelchair?" accessed February 6, 2019
  19. LinkedIn, "Greg Abbott," accessed May 18, 2021
  20. Texas Tribune, "Donald Trump says Greg Abbott is 'absolutely' on vice president short list," February 29, 2024
  21. DFW CBS Local, "Texas Governor Greg Abbott Tests Positive For COVID-19 Despite Receiving Vaccination," August 17, 2021
  22. Texas Observer, "Greg Abbott’s Weird Primary Gamble," March 1, 2018
  23. Texas Tribune, "Lawmakers take aim at Abbott on ethics reform, but he fires back," August 2, 2017
  24. Texas Tribune, "Abbott plunges deeper into House primary challenges," February 20, 2018
  25. The Texas Tribune, "It was a bad election night for Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas' best-funded Tea Party group," March 7, 2018
  26. Austin American-Statesman, "Domestic partner benefits violate same-sex ban, attorney general rules," April 29, 2013
  27. SCOTUSblog, "Florida v. Department of Health and Human Services," accessed August 11, 2020
  28. Beaumont Enterprise, "Texas sues to stop EPA from regulating greenhouse gases," February 7, 2010
  29. Texas Tribune, "Texas vs. the Feds — A Look at the Lawsuits," January 17, 2017
  30. Oyez, "Van Orden v. Perry," June 27, 2005
  31. Twitter, "Greg Abbott," July 13, 2023
  32. KPVI, "Abbott urges Texans to support constitutional amendments," accessed May 5, 2022
  33. KPVI, "Abbott urges Texans to support constitutional amendments," accessed May 5, 2022
  34. KVUE, "Gov. Abbott endorses Austin Prop A," October 25, 2021
  35. Twitter, "Greg Abbott," October 25, 2019
  36. 36.0 36.1 36.2 36.3 Statesman, "Abbott: Vote to save your time and money," accessed May 18, 2021
  37. The Texas Tribune, "Davis, Abbott Express Support for Proposition 6," October 24, 2013
  38. Governor Abbott, "Greg Abbott," accessed July 12, 2018

Political offices
Preceded by
Rick Perry (R)
Governor of Texas
2015-Present
Succeeded by
-
Preceded by
-
Attorney General of Texas
2002-2015
Succeeded by
-
Preceded by
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Texas Supreme Court Place 5
1996-2004
Succeeded by
-
Preceded by
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Texas 129th District Court
1993-1996
Succeeded by
-