Texas Governor | |
General information | |
Office Type: | Partisan |
Office website: | Official Link |
Compensation: | $153,750 |
2022 FY Budget: | $11,808,830 |
Term limits: | None |
Structure | |
Length of term: | 4 years |
Authority: | Texas Constitution, Article 4, Section 1 |
Selection Method: | Elected |
Current Officeholder | |
Governor of Texas
Greg Abbott | |
Elections | |
Next election: | November 8, 2022 |
Last election: | November 6, 2018 |
Other Texas Executive Offices | |
Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Comptroller • Auditor • Education Commissioner • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Land Commissioner • Workforce Commission • Public Utility Commission • Railroad Commission |
Texas has a Republican trifecta. The Republican Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature.
Texas has a Republican triplex. The Republican Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.
The 48th and current governor is Greg Abbott (R). He assumed office on January 20, 2015, succeeding Rick Perry (R). Perry was the longest-serving governor in state history with a tenure lasting from 2000 to 2015. Abbott previously served as the Attorney General of Texas from 2002 to 2015.[1]
The Governor's powers, term of office, qualifications, and installation are established by Article 4 of the Texas Constitution.[2]
Article 4, Section 1:
The Executive Department of the State shall consist of a Governor, who shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the State... |
Article 4, Section 4 of the Texas Constitution establishes the qualifications of office as such:[3]
He shall be at least thirty years of age, a citizen of the United States, and shall have resided in this State at least five years immediately preceding his election.[4] |
Additionally, the Governor:
...shall not hold any other office: civil, military or corporate; nor shall he practice any profession, and receive compensation, reward, fee, or the promise thereof for the same; nor receive any salary, reward or compensation or the promise thereof from any person or corporation, for any service rendered or performed during the time he is Governor, or to be thereafter rendered or performed.[4] |
Texas elects governors in the midterm elections, that is, even years that are not presidential election years. For Texas 2018, 2022, 2026, 2030 and 2034 are all gubernatorial election years. Legally, the gubernatorial inauguration is always set for the "on the first Tuesday after the organization of the Legislature, or as soon thereafter as practicable."
If two candidates tie for the most votes or if an election is contested, a joint session of the legislature shall cast ballots to resolve the issue.[3]
Texas governors do not face any term limits.[3]
The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Office of the Governor of Texas from 1992 to 2013.
Incumbent Greg Abbott defeated Lupe Valdez and Mark Tippetts in the general election for Governor of Texas on November 6, 2018.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
✔ |
|
Greg Abbott (R) |
55.8
|
4,656,196 |
|
Lupe Valdez (D) |
42.5
|
3,546,615 | |
|
Mark Tippetts (L) |
1.7
|
140,632 |
Total votes: 8,343,443 | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
Lupe Valdez defeated Andrew White in the Democratic primary runoff for Governor of Texas on May 22, 2018.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
✔ |
|
Lupe Valdez |
53.0
|
224,091 |
|
Andrew White |
47.0
|
198,407 |
Total votes: 422,498 | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Governor of Texas on March 6, 2018.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
✔ |
|
Lupe Valdez |
42.9
|
435,484 |
✔ |
|
Andrew White |
27.4
|
278,333 |
|
Cedric Davis |
8.3
|
83,817 | |
|
Grady Yarbrough |
5.4
|
54,372 | |
|
Jeffrey Payne |
4.8
|
48,269 | |
|
Adrian Ocegueda |
4.4
|
44,681 | |
|
Thomas Wakely |
3.4
|
34,737 | |
|
James Clark |
2.2
|
21,871 | |
|
Joe Mumbach |
1.4
|
13,878 |
Total votes: 1,015,442 | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
Incumbent Greg Abbott defeated Barbara Krueger and Larry SECEDE Kilgore in the Republican primary for Governor of Texas on March 6, 2018.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
✔ |
|
Greg Abbott |
90.4
|
1,389,562 |
|
Barbara Krueger |
8.3
|
127,134 | |
|
Larry SECEDE Kilgore |
1.3
|
20,384 |
Total votes: 1,537,080 | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
Republican Greg Abbott won election on November 4, 2014.
Governor of Texas, 2014 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Republican | Greg 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 |
To view the electoral history dating back to 2002 for the office of Governor of Texas, Click [show] to expand the section. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2010 On November 2, 2010, Rick Perry won re-election to the office of Governor of Texas. He defeated Bill White, Kathie Glass, Deb Shafto and Andy Barron in the general election.
2006 On November 7, 2006, Rick Perry won re-election to the office of Governor of Texas. He defeated Chris Bell, James Werner, Richard "Kinky" Friedman, Carole Keeton Strayhorn and James "Patriot" Dillon in the general election.
2002 On November 5, 2002, Rick Perry won re-election to the office of Governor of Texas. He defeated Tony Sanchez, Jeff Daiell, Rahul Mahajan, Elaine Eure Henderson and Earl W. (Bill) O'Neil in the general election.
|
Article 4, Section 16 of the Texas Constitution defines the method by which a vacancy of the Governor's office is filled:
(c) In the case of the temporary inability or temporary disqualification of the Governor to serve, the impeachment of the Governor, or the absence of the Governor from the State, the Lieutenant Governor shall exercise the powers and authority appertaining to the office of Governor until the Governor becomes able or qualified to resume serving, is acquitted, or returns to the State. (d) If the Governor refuses to serve or becomes permanently unable to serve, or if the office of Governor becomes vacant, the Lieutenant Governor becomes Governor for the remainder of the term being served by the Governor who refused or became unable to serve or vacated the office. On becoming Governor, the person vacates the office of Lieutenant Governor, and the resulting vacancy in the office of Lieutenant Governor shall be filled in the manner provided by Section 9, Article III, of this Constitution. |
The constitutional and statutory duties of the governor include:
The Office of the Governor consists of a number councils, committees, and divisions comprised of leaders and experts from diverse backgrounds who provide technical assistance to the Governor across of range of policy areas. They provide research, advice, and organizational leadership to the Governor in support of a "vision for a better, more prosperous Texas."[6] The Office of the Governor is comprised as follows:
Contact Appointments | |
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Phone: (512) 463-1828 Fax: (512) 475-2576 |
Contact BPP | |
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Phone: (512) 463-1778 Address:1100 San Jacinto, Austin, Texas 78701 |
Contact CSTT | |
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Phone: 1-888-373-7888 Address:1100 San Jacinto, Austin, Texas 78701 |
Texas First Lady Anita Perry on the Governor's Commission for Women |
Contact Disabilities | |
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Phone: Phone: (512) 463-5739 Email: GCPD@governor.state.tx.us |
Contact The Governor's Office | |
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Contact Us Gregory S. Davidson, Constituent Communication Division Director and Executive Clerk to the Governor |
Contact Criminal Justice Division | |
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Phone: (512) 463-1919 Fax: (512) 475-2440 |
Contact Economic Development and Tourism Division | |
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Phone: 512-936-0100 Email: locatetx@governor.state.tx.us |
Contact Financial Services | |
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Chief Financial Officer: Rebeca Temple White, CPA Email: Rebeca.White@Governor.state.tx.us |
Contact Office of General Counsel | |
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Department Mailing Address: Office of the General Counsel, P.O. Box 12428, Austin, TX 78711 Phone: 512.463.2000 |
Contact Homeland Security | |
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Phone: (512) 475-0645 Fax: (512) 475-0876 |
Contact HR | |
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Phone:(512)463-5873 Email: humanresources@governor.state.tx.us |
Contact Press Office | |
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Department Mailing Address: P.O. Box 12428, Austin, Texas 78711 Department Physical Address: 1100 Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78701 |
Contact Scheduling and Advance | |
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Department Mailing Address: P.O. Box 12428 Austin, Texas 7871 Phone: 512.463.7210 |
Contact Texas Film Commission | |
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Mailing Address: P.O. Box 13246, Austin, TX 78711 Phone: (512) 463-9200 |
Contact THCPC | |
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Phone: (512) 463-1778 Fax: (512) 463-1975 |
Contact Texas Music Office | |
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Mailing address: P.O. Box 13246 Austin, Texas 78711 Physical address: State Insurance Building, Suite 3.418, 1100 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin, Texas 78701 |
Contact TWIC | |
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Phone:(512) 936-8100 Email: twic@governor.state.tx.us |
The state operates on a biennial budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[21]
Texas is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[21]
The legislature is constitutionally required to adopt a balanced budget. The governor must sign a balanced budget into law.[21]
The budget for the Governor's Office in Fiscal Year 2022 was $11,808,830.[22]
See statutes: Texas Statutes Title 6, Chapter 659
The governor, along with the rest of Texas' executive officers, is entitled by Article 4, Section 5 of the Texas Constitution to receive an annual salary, pursuant to Title 6, Section 659.011 of the Texas Statutes. The legislature was empowered to set the salaries of executive branch officers by a 1954 constitutional amendment. Prior to that, the constitution stipulated the salary amounts paid to each officer.[23] The amounts are fixed by the biennial General Appropriations Act.
In 2020, the governor’s salary was increased to $153,750, according to the Council of State Governments.[24]
In 2019, the governor’s salary was increased to $153,750, according to the Council of State Governments.[25]
In 2018, the governor’s salary was increased to $153,750, according to the Council of State Governments.[26]
In 2017, the governor’s salary was increased to $153,750, according to the Council of State Governments.[27]
In 2016, the governor’s salary was increased to $153,750, according to the Council of State Governments.[28]
In 2015, the governor received a salary of $150,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[29]
In 2014, the governor received a salary of $150,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[30]
In 2013, the governor's salary remained at $150,000.[31]
In 2010, the Texas Governor was paid an estimated $150,000 according to the Council of State Governments, the 11th highest gubernatorial salary in America.[32]
From 1846-present, the state of Texas has had 48 governors. Of the 48 governors, 40 were Democratic, six were Republican, one was an Independent and one was a Unionist.[33]
Click "show" for Texas former governors from 1846 to present.
# | Name | Took office | Left office | Party |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | James Pinckney Henderson | February 19, 1846 | December 21, 1847 | Democratic |
2 | George T. Wood | December 21, 1847 | December 21, 1849 | Democratic |
3 | Peter Hansborough Bell | December 21, 1849 | November 23, 1853 | Democratic |
4 | James W. Henderson | November 23, 1853 | December 21, 1853 | Democratic |
5 | Elisha M. Pease | December 21, 1853 | December 21, 1857 | Unionist |
6 | Hardin R. Runnels | December 21, 1857 | December 21, 1859 | Democratic |
7 | Sam Houston | December 21, 1859 | March 18, 1861 | Independent |
8 | Edward Clark | March 18, 1861 | November 7, 1861 | Democratic |
9 | Francis R. Lubbock | November 7, 1861 | November 5, 1863 | Democratic |
10 | Pendleton Murrah | November 5, 1863 | June 17, 1865 | Democratic |
11 | Andrew J. Hamilton | June 17, 1865 | August 9, 1866 | Democratic-Military |
12 | James W. Throckmorton | August 9, 1866 | August 8, 1867 | Democratic |
13 | Elisha M. Pease | June 8, 1867 | September 30, 1869 | Republican |
14 | Edmund J. Davis | January 8, 1870 | January 15, 1874 | Republican |
15 | Richard Coke | January 15, 1874 | December 21, 1876 | Democratic |
16 | Richard B. Hubbard | December 21, 1876 | January 21, 1879 | Democratic |
17 | Oran M. Roberts | January 21, 1879 | January 16, 1883 | Democratic |
18 | John Ireland | January 16, 1883 | January 20, 1887 | Democratic |
19 | Lawrence Sullivan Ross | January 18, 1887 | January 20, 1891 | Democratic |
20 | James Stephen Hogg | January 20, 1891 | January 15, 1895 | Democratic |
21 | Charles A. Culberson | January 15, 1895 | January 17, 1899 | Democratic |
22 | Joseph D. Sayers | January 17, 1899 | January 20, 1903 | Democratic |
23 | S. W. T. Lanham | January 20, 1903 | January 15, 1907 | Democratic |
24 | Thomas Mitchell Campbell | January 15, 1907 | January 17, 1911 | Democratic |
25 | Oscar Branch Colquitt | January 17, 1911 | January 19, 1915 | Democratic |
26 | James E. "Pa" Ferguson | January 19, 1915 | August 25, 1917 | Democratic |
27 | William P. Hobby | August 25, 1917 | January 18, 1921 | Democratic |
28 | Pat Morris Neff | January 18, 1921 | January 20, 1925 | Democratic |
29 | Miriam A. "Ma" Ferguson | January 20, 1925 | January 17, 1927 | Democratic |
30 | Dan Moody | January 17, 1927 | January 20, 1931 | Democratic |
31 | Ross S. Sterling | January 20, 1931 | January 17, 1933 | Democratic |
32 | Miriam A. "Ma" Ferguson | January 17, 1933 | January 15, 1935 | Democratic |
33 | James V. Allred | January 15, 1935 | January 17, 1939 | Democratic |
34 | W. Lee O'Daniel | January 17, 1939 | August 4, 1941 | Democratic |
35 | Coke R. Stevenson | August 4, 1941 | January 21, 1947 | Democratic |
36 | Beauford H. Jester | January 21, 1947 | July 11, 1949 | Democratic |
37 | Allan Shivers | July 11, 1949 | January 15, 1957 | Democratic |
38 | Price Daniel | January 15, 1957 | January 15, 1963 | Democratic |
39 | John Connally | January 15, 1963 | January 21, 1969 | Democratic |
40 | Preston Smith | January 21, 1969 | January 16, 1973 | Democratic |
41 | Dolph Briscoe | January 16, 1973 | January 16, 1979 | Democratic |
42 | Bill Clements | January 16, 1979 | January 18, 1983 | Republican |
43 | Mark White | January 18, 1983 | January 20, 1987 | Democratic |
44 | Bill Clements | January 20, 1987 | January 15, 1991 | Republican |
45 | Ann Richards | January 15, 1991 | January 17, 1995 | Democratic |
46 | George W. Bush | January 17, 1995 | December 21, 2000 | Republican |
47 | Rick Perry | December 21, 2000 | January 20, 2015 | Republican |
48 | Greg Abbott | January 20, 2015 | Incumbent | Republican |
From 1992-2013, in Texas there were Democratic governors in office for the first three years while there were Republican governors in office for the last 19 years. Texas is one of eight states that were run by a Republican governor for more than 80 percent of the years between 1992-2013. Texas was under Republican trifectas for the last 11 years of the study period.
Across the country, there were 493 years of Democratic governors (44.82%) and 586 years of Republican governors (53.27%) from 1992 to 2013.
Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.
The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Office of the Governor of Texas, the Texas State Senate and the Texas House of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.
Texas was one of eight states to demonstrate a dramatic partisan shift in the 22 years studied. A dramatic shift was defined by a movement of 40 percent or more toward one party over the course of the study period. Texas started out with Democratic trifectas but shifted to Republican trifectas by the end of the study.
The chart below depicts the partisanship of the Texas state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. Prior to Republican trifectas, which started in 2003, the SQLI rating for Texas stayed consistently in the 30s, except for its lowest ranking of 40 in 1994 during a Democratic trifecta. Within a few years of the Republican trifectas that ranking moved up, and Texas finished 11th, its highest ranking, in 2012.
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Texas Governor Abbott. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Physical Address:
Office of the Governor
State Insurance Building
1100 San Jacinto
Austin, Texas 78701
Mailing Address:
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, Texas 78711-2428
Phone: 512-463-2000
Fax: 512-463-1849
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