Gov. Greg Abbott Announces Run for Fourth Term as Texas Governor
Governor Greg Abbott officially announced his intention to run for a fourth term as Texas governor on Sunday at a golf course in Houston. “This is the place where I first ran for public office,” Abbott said, referencing his judicial election for the 129th District Court in the early 1990s. “We won Harris County then, and we are going to win Harris County again this election.”
Entering his reelection campaign, the three-term governor of the Lone Star State boasts a reported $87 million in cash on hand. Abbott has led Texas during a time when the Republican Party of Texas has shifted ideologically farther to the right. He is also known for being a consistent supporter and ally of former President Donald Trump.
During his announcement, Abbott highlighted Texas’ business-friendly environment, his response to July’s historic flooding, and the state’s ongoing economic growth. “Today, under my leadership, the Texas gross domestic product has increased to $2.7 trillion a year,” Abbott said, “making Texas now the eighth largest economy in the entire world.”
Looking ahead, much of Abbott’s speech focused on his plans to lower property taxes for homeowners. “We are going to turn the tables on local taxing authorities and put the power with the people,” he declared.
Abbott currently faces two Republican challengers in the party’s primary scheduled for March 2026: Pete Chambers and Ronnie Tullos. Given Abbott’s incumbency and strong campaign war chest, he is widely expected to win easily, as he did four years ago, before facing the Democratic nominee in the November general election.
Greg Abbott’s Long History in Texas Politics
Since taking office in 2015, Abbott has successfully pushed many conservative priorities in Texas. His recent achievements include the state’s controversial mid-decade congressional redistricting plan and signing a $1 billion school voucher bill into law in May.
In previous legislative sessions, Abbott has prioritized cutting property taxes, reforming the bail system, and advancing various election and immigration measures as emergency items.
During his nearly 11 years in office, Abbott has overseen Texas’ response to multiple natural disasters, including Hurricane Harvey and Winter Storm Uri. He also implemented the state-led border security initiative known as Operation Lone Star, which has been the subject of debate.
Before becoming the 48th governor of Texas, Abbott served on the Supreme Court of Texas and was the state’s longest-serving attorney general.
Background and Personal History
Abbott attended the University of Texas at Austin and earned his law degree from Vanderbilt University in 1984. Shortly after, he became paralyzed when a falling tree pinned him while jogging. He filed lawsuits against the homeowner and the tree-trimming company, ultimately winning a six-figure annual payout for life.
Despite his injury, Abbott continued practicing law in Houston and won his first election in 1993 as a state trial judge. Three years later, he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Texas by then-Governor George W. Bush. Abbott resigned from the Supreme Court in 2001 to return to private legal practice.
He subsequently became Texas Attorney General in late 2002, a position he held until shortly before being sworn in as governor in 2015.
If Abbott wins reelection in 2026 and serves a full fourth term, he will become Texas’ longest-serving governor.
“We will finish what we started. We will lead Texas into its glorious future,” Abbott said during his announcement. “And that’s why tonight, I’m here to announce, I am running for reelection as your governor for the great state of Texas.”
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/texas/2025/11/09/535561/greg-abbott-announces-reelection-campaign-for-record-fourth-term-as-texas-governor/
