Governor of Texas

Texas Governor
General information
Office Type:	Partisan
Office website:	Official Link
Compensation:	$153,750
2025 FY Budget:	$15,129,312
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 Republican Party Assumed office: 2015-01-20
Elections
Next election:	November 3, 2026
Last election:	November 8, 2022
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

The Governor of Texas is the chief executive of the state of Texas and is elected by the citizens every four years. The governor has the power to: sign and veto bills passed by the state legislature, serve as commander-in-chief of the state's military forces, convene special sessions of the legislature, grant reprieves and pardons, and fill vacant positions via appointment. Additionally, the governor is responsible for delivering the "State of the State" address and an annual state budget report and budget recommendation.

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.

See also: Texas State Legislature, Texas House of Representatives, Texas State Senate

Current officeholder

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.

Authority

The Governor's powers, term of office, qualifications, and installation are established by Article 4 of the Texas Constitution.

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...

Qualifications

Article 4, Section 4 of the Texas Constitution establishes the qualifications of office as such:

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.

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.

Elections

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 "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.

Term limits

See also: States with gubernatorial term limits

Texas governors do not face any term limits.

Partisan composition

The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Office of the Governor of Texas from 1992 to 2013.

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

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 8,102,908
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Reginald Jennings II (Independent)
• Jorge Franco (Independent)
• Jeremy Rios (Independent)
• Ricardo Turullols-Bonilla (Independent)
• Justin Cunneen (Independent)
• Sean Sharp (Independent)
• Demetra Wysinger (Independent)
• Chioma Okoro (Independent)
• Star Locke (Independent)
• Raul Cortina (Independent)
• Patrick Wynne (Reform Party)
• Jal Dennis (Independent)
• Deirdre Dickson-Gilbert (Independent)

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
✔		Beto O'Rourke	91.4	983,182
		Joy Diaz	3.1	33,622
		Michael Cooper	3.0	32,673
		Rich Wakeland	1.2	13,237
		Inocencio Barrientez	1.2	12,887

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,075,601
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Deirdre Dickson-Gilbert (D)
• Star Locke (D)
• Jack Daniel Foster Jr. (D)
• Larry Baggett (D)

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

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,954,172
= 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
✔		Delilah Barrios (G)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= 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
		Fidel Castillo (L)
✔		Mark Tippetts (L)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Andrew Jewell (L)
• Daniel Behrman (L)

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
✔		Greg Abbott (R)	55.8	4,656,196
		Lupe Valdez (D)	42.5	3,546,615
		Mark Tippetts (L)	1.7	140,632

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 8,343,443
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Janis Richards (G)

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
✔		Lupe Valdez	53.0	224,091
		Andrew White	47.0	198,407

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 422,498
= 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
✔		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

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,015,442
= 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
✔		Greg Abbott	90.4	1,389,562
		Barbara Krueger	8.3	127,134
		Larry SECEDE Kilgore	1.3	20,384

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,537,080
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Full history

2014

See also: Texas gubernatorial election, 2014

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.

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. Governor of Texas, 2010 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican Rick Perry Incumbent 55% 2,737,481      Democratic Bill White 42.3% 2,106,395      Libertarian Kathie Glass 2.2% 109,211      Green Deb Shafto 0.4% 19,516      Write-In Andy Barron 0.1% 7,267 Total Votes 4,979,870 Election results via Texas Secretary of State. 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. Governor of Texas, 2006 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican Rick Perry Incumbent 39% 1,716,792      Democratic Chris Bell 29.8% 1,310,337      Libertarian James Werner 0.6% 26,749      Independent Richard "Kinky" Friedman 12.4% 547,674      Independent Carole Keeton Strayhorn 18.1% 796,851      Write-In James "Patriot" Dillon 0% 713 Total Votes 4,399,116 Election results via Texas Secretary of State. 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. Governor of Texas, 2002 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican Rick Perry Incumbent 57.8% 2,632,591      Democratic Tony Sanchez 40% 1,819,798      Libertarian Jeff Daiell 1.5% 66,720      Green Rahul Mahajan 0.7% 32,187      Write-In Elaine Eure Henderson 0% 1,715      Write-In Earl W. (Bill) O'Neil 0% 976 Total Votes 4,553,987 Election results via Texas Secretary of State.

Vacancies

See also: How gubernatorial vacancies are filled

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.

Duties

The constitutional and statutory duties of the governor include:

• Signing or vetoing bills passed by the Legislature.
• Serving as commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.
• Convening special sessions of the Legislature for specific purposes.
• Delivering a report on the condition of the state to the Legislature at the beginning of each regular session.
• Estimating of the amounts of money required to be raised by taxation.
• Accounting for all public monies received and paid out by him and recommending a budget for the next two years.
• Granting reprieves and commutations of punishment and pardons upon the recommendation of the Board of Pardons and *Paroles and revoking conditional pardons.
• Declaring special elections to fill vacancies in certain elected offices.
• Appointing qualified Texans to state offices that carry out the laws and direct the policies of state government. Some *of these offices are filled by appointment only. Others are ordinarily elected by the people, but the governor must occasionally appoint individuals to fill vacancies. The governor also appoints Texans to a wide range of advisory bodies and task forces that assist him with specific issues."

Divisions

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." The Office of the Governor is comprised as follows:

Appointments Office

The Appointment Office is a team devoted to assisting the Governor in identifying, recruiting, and hiring talented individuals for the many positions that must be filled in a gubernatorial term.

Appointment is an executive power under which the Governor selects individuals to head state government bodies, councils, and bureaucracies. Appointment power is granted to the governor by the Texas Constitution. '"Article 4, Section 12" states: "All vacancies in State or district offices, except members of the Legislature, shall be filled unless otherwise provided by law by appointment of the Governor." The appointment of officials is one of the most influential methods by which the Governor executes the policies enacted by the legislature. Approximately 3,000 appointments will be made during a four-year term.

Contact Appointments
Phone: (512) 463-1828 Fax: (512) 475-2576 Address:1100 San Jacinto, Austin, Texas 78701

Governor's Standard

Budget and Policy

"The Budget, Planning and Policy Division advises the Governor regarding state fiscal matters in support of his statutory role as Texas' Chief budget officer. The division also:

• Prepares the Governor's biennial budget recommendations to the Legislature.
• Monitors state appropriations and operations.
• Analyzes fiscal and economic issues.
• Performs other duties determined by the Governor."

• Governor Rick Perry's Proposed Budget for FY2010-2011

Contact BPP
Phone: (512) 463-1778 Address:1100 San Jacinto, Austin, Texas 78701 Department Physical Address: 1100 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin, TX 78701 FAX: (512) 463-1975

Child Sex Trafficking Team

The Child Sex Trafficking Team (CSTT) helps to end human trafficking and promote policies to end the exploitation of children and help victims of sexual trafficking recover.

Contact CSTT
Phone: 1-888-373-7888 Address:1100 San Jacinto, Austin, Texas 78701 Department Physical Address: 1100 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin, TX 78701

Commission for Women

Texas First Lady Anita Perry on the Governor's Commission for Women

The Governor's Commission for Women specializes in research, education, referral services, and outreach in support of helping "Texas women live healthier, more productive and more prosperous lives."

Contact Women's Commission

Toll-Free: (800) 839-5323

Phone: (512) 475-2615

Fax: (512) 463-1832

Email: women@governor.state.tx.us

Address:1100 San Jacinto, Austin, Texas 78701

Committee on People with Disabilities

The mission of the Committee on People with Disabilities is "to further opportunities for persons with disabilities to enjoy full and equal access to lives of independence, productivity, and self-determination."

The Committee advises the Governor on policies and programs in areas that affect the lives of the disabled, while also promoting awareness of and compliance with disability laws in Texas. Areas of focus include: accessibility, communication, education, emergency preparedness, health, housing, recreation, transportation, veterans and workforce.

Contact Disabilities
Phone: Phone: (512) 463-5739 Email: GCPD@governor.state.tx.us Address: 1100 San Jacinto, Austin, Texas 78701 For relay services dial 711 or your relay provider of choice Fax: (512) 463-5745

Constituent Communication

Constituent Communication is the Texas citizenry's connection to the Governor. The division reviews and responds to letters, emails, phone calls, and faxes from constituents.

Contact The Governor's Office
Contact Us Gregory S. Davidson, Constituent Communication Division Director and Executive Clerk to the Governor Phone: 512.463.1800 Phone/FAX: (512)463-0039 Division Mailing Address: P.O. Box 12428, Capitol Station, Austin, Texas, 78711 Division Physical Address: State Insurance Building

Criminal Justice Division

The mission of the Criminal Justice Division is "to create and support programs that protect people from crime, reduce the number of crimes committed, and to promote accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness within the criminal justice system."

The division administers various forms of state and federal grant funding that adhere to the following two goals: "1) encourage innovative solutions and 2) provide for local control." Further, the CJD assists and advises the governor across a range of programs and policy areas within the Texas criminal justice system - ranging from coordinating state and local efforts to measuring the performance of community-based programs to evaluating juvenile justice procedures and programs.

Contact Criminal Justice Division
Phone: (512) 463-1919 Fax: (512) 475-2440 Address:1100 San Jacinto, Austin, Texas 78701 Division Mailing Address: P.O. Box 12428, Capitol Station, Austin, Texas, 78711 Division Physical Address: State Insurance Building

Economic Development

The Economic Development division operates a range of programs and activities aimed at promoting the state of Texas in the national and international spheres as a place for business development and location, as well as a premiere travel location. The division is composed of the following focus areas:

• Texas Business Development
• The Office of Aerospace and Aviation
• The Economic Development Bank
• Small Business Assistance
• Texas Tourism
• Texas Military Preparedness Division

Contact Economic Development and Tourism Division
Phone: 512-936-0100 Email: locatetx@governor.state.tx.us Mailing Address: P.O. Box 12428, Austin, Texas 78711-2428 Fax: 512-936-0080

Financial Services

The mission of Financial Services is to ensure "that all financial transactions in the governor’s office set the highest standard for the state."

• FY2009 Annual Financial Report
• FY2010 Operating Budget
• FY2012-13 Legislative Appropriation Request

Contact Financial Services
Chief Financial Officer: Rebeca Temple White, CPA Email: Rebeca.White@Governor.state.tx.us Department Mailing Address: P. O. Box 12878, Austin, TX 78711-2878 Department Physical Address: 1100 San Jacinto, Insurance Building, 3rd Floor Phone: 512-463-1776 Fax: 512-463-4114

General Counsel

The Office of General Counsel "provides legal advice to the Governor and his team, handling the broad range of issues encountered in leading the second largest state in the nation."

Contact Office of General Counsel
Department Mailing Address: Office of the General Counsel, P.O. Box 12428, Austin, TX 78711 Phone: 512.463.2000 Fax: 512.463.1932

Homeland Security

Established in 2003, the Governor's Office of Homeland Security's mission is " to protect Texans, as well as the State’s critical infrastructure and key resources, from all threats." The Office accomplishes this mission by assisting the state in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from natural and manmade disasters.

Contact Homeland Security
Phone: (512) 475-0645 Fax: (512) 475-0876 Address:1100 San Jacinto, Austin, Texas 78701

Human Resources

The Human Resources Division handles all hiring and personnel issues for positions within the Office of the Governor. Human Resources also manages the Texas Governor's Fellowship Program.

Contact HR
Phone:(512)463-5873 Email: humanresources@governor.state.tx.us Fax:(512) 463-8464 Address:1100 San Jacinto, Austin, Texas 78701

Press Office

The Press Office serves as the conduit of communication between the Governor and the press. The Office conveys the Governor's perspectives on policy matters, current events, and pressing issues to journalists and reporters as a primary method of communicating with the people of Texas.

Contact Press Office
Department Mailing Address: P.O. Box 12428, Austin, Texas 78711 Department Physical Address: 1100 Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78701 Phone: 512.463.1826 Fax: 512.463.1847

Scheduling and Advance

Scheduling and Advance is "responsible for responding to requests for the Governor’s time in an efficient and courteous manner, as well as organizing the logistics of the governor’s attendance at local, state, national and international events. This office creates a clear, concise schedule for the governor on a daily basis."

Contact Scheduling and Advance
Department Mailing Address: P.O. Box 12428 Austin, Texas 7871 Phone: 512.463.7210 Fax: 512.475.2349 Email: Invite@governor.state.tx.us

Texas Film Commission

The Texas Film Commission was created in 1979 to ""encourage the orderly development of the film, television, and multi-media production industry in Texas in order to utilize the state's vast array of natural, human, and economic resources which are uniquely suitable for that industry."

Contact Texas Film Commission
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 13246, Austin, TX 78711 Phone: (512) 463-9200 Fax: (512) 463-4114 Email:film@governor.state.tx.us

Texas Healthcare Policy Council

The mission of the Texas Healthcare Policy Council is to "research, analyze, and provide recommendations on ways to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of the health care system in Texas." The Council furthers this mission by conducting research into efective health care solutions, ensuring collaboration amongst state and local health care providers, assisting communities in assessing their heath care needs, and assisting the Governor with various health care related issues as they arise.

Contact THCPC
Phone: (512) 463-1778 Fax: (512) 463-1975 Address:P.O. Box 12428, Austin, Texas 78711

Texas Music Office

The mission of the Texas Music Office is to serve "as the information clearinghouse and promotion office for the Texas music industry."

Contact Texas Music Office
Mailing address: P.O. Box 13246 Austin, Texas 78711 Physical address: State Insurance Building, Suite 3.418, 1100 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin, Texas 78701 Phone: 512.463.6666 Fax: 512.463.4114

Texas Workforce Investment Council

The mission of the Texas Workforce Investment Council is to assist "the Governor and the Legislature with strategic planning for and evaluation of the Texas workforce development system, which is composed of eight state agencies and 25 diverse and dynamic programs. The Council’s strategic priority is to promote the linkage of education, workforce and economic development in order to leverage resources, increase collaboration among state and local partners, and build the pipeline of skilled workers that Texas must have to prosper in the 21st century."

• TWIC FY2009 Annual Report

Contact TWIC
Phone:(512) 936-8100 Email: twic@governor.state.tx.us Fax:(512) 936-8118 Address:1100 San Jacinto, Austin, Texas 78701

State budget

Role in state budget

See also: Texas state budget and finances

The state operates on a biennial budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:

1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies beginning in June.
2. Agencies submit their budget requests to the governor between July and September.
3. Public hearings are held between July and October.
4. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature by the date of the State of the State address.
5. The legislature typically adopts a budget in May. A simple majority is required to pass a budget. The fiscal year begins in September.

Texas is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.

The legislature is constitutionally required to adopt a balanced budget. The governor must sign a balanced budget into law.

Governor's office budget

The budget for the Governor's Office in Fiscal Year 2025 was $15,129,312.

Compensation

See also: Comparison of gubernatorial salaries and Compensation of state executive officers

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. The amounts are fixed by the biennial General Appropriations Act.

2022

In 2022, the officer's salary was $153,750, according to the Council of State Governments.

2021

In 2021, the governor received a salary of $153,750, according to the Council of State Governments.

2020

In 2020, the governor’s salary was increased to $153,750, according to the Council of State Governments.

2019

In 2019, the governor’s salary was increased to $153,750, according to the Council of State Governments.

2018

In 2018, the governor’s salary was increased to $153,750, according to the Council of State Governments.

2017

In 2017, the governor’s salary was increased to $153,750, according to the Council of State Governments.

2016

In 2016, the governor’s salary was increased to $153,750, according to the Council of State Governments.

2015

In 2015, the governor received a salary of $150,000, according to the Council of State Governments.

2014

In 2014, the governor received a salary of $150,000, according to the Council of State Governments.

2013

In 2013, the governor's salary remained at $150,000.

2010

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.

Historical officeholders

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.

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

History

Partisan balance 1992-2013

See also: Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States and Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States, Texas

Partisan breakdown of the Texas governorship from 1992-2013

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.

SQLI and partisanship

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.

• SQLI average with Democratic trifecta: 36.67
• SQLI average with Republican trifecta: 18.00
• SQLI average with divided government: 33.63

Chart displaying the partisanship of Texas government from 1992-2013 and the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI).

State profile

Demographic data for Texas
	Texas	U.S.
Total population:	27,429,639	316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):	261,232	3,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:	74.9%	73.6%
Black/African American:	11.9%	12.6%
Asian:	4.2%	5.1%
Native American:	0.5%	0.8%
Pacific Islander:	0.1%	0.2%
Two or more:	2.5%	3%
Hispanic/Latino:	38.4%	17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:	81.9%	86.7%
College graduation rate:	27.6%	29.8%
Income
Median household income:	$53,207	$53,889
Persons below poverty level:	19.9%	11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Texas. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

Presidential voting pattern

See also: Presidential voting trends in Texas

Texas voted Republican in all six presidential elections between 2000 and 2020.

Pivot Counties (2016)

Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, one is located in Texas, accounting for 0.5 percent of the total pivot counties.

Pivot Counties (2020)

In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Texas had one Retained Pivot County, 0.55 percent of all Retained Pivot Counties.

More Texas coverage on Ballotpedia

• Elections in Texas
• United States congressional delegations from Texas
• Public policy in Texas
• Influencers in Texas
• Texas fact checks
• More...

Contact information

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

External links

• Search Google News for this topic
• Office of the Texas Governor
• Duties of the Governor of Texas