Greg Abbott

Why they say you should vote for them

The candidate's own case to voters, summarized from their campaign and public statements.

• Campaigns on the message that "Texans come first," pointing to lower taxes, a secure border and safer communities.[1]
• Credits tougher bail laws and support for law enforcement with three straight years of declining crime statewide.[1]
• Offers a "Keep Texas Affordable" plan to lower housing, electricity, insurance and health care costs, including faster homebuilding approvals and $25 monthly copay caps for inhalers and epinephrine.[4]
• Proposes letting voters decide whether to eliminate school district property taxes for homeowners, lowering the homestead appraisal cap and requiring two-thirds voter approval for local tax increases.[3]

Background

• Governor of Texas, State of Texas · 2015–present[2],[6]
• Texas Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General of Texas · 2002–2015[2],[6]
• Justice, Supreme Court of Texas · 1996–2001[2],[6]
• State district judge, 129th District Court, Harris County · Early 1990s (about three years)[2],[6]
• Attorney in private practice, Butler & Binion LLP · 1984–1992[6]

Education

• B.B.A., University of Texas at Austin (1981)[6],[2]
• J.D., Vanderbilt University Law School (1984)[6],[2]

Where they stand

• Taxes
  Proposes a voter-approved end to school district property taxes for homeowners, lowering the homestead appraisal cap from 10% to 3%, and local spending limits; opposes a state income tax.[3],[1]
• Education
  Signed the 2025 law creating a $1 billion education savings account program for private school tuition and other expenses; proposes requiring 70% of school funding to go to classrooms and limiting classroom screen time.[7],[5]
• Public Safety
  Proposes expanding the state's repeat-offender task force, creating a statewide prosecutor and allowing impeachment of district attorneys he says fail to uphold their oath.[3]
• Immigration
  Launched the state border security effort Operation Lone Star in 2021; says people in the country illegally who are arrested for violent felonies should be denied bail.[6],[3]
• Abortion
  Signed the 2021 Texas Heartbeat Act, which prohibits most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy.[8]
• Guns
  Signed the 2021 law allowing Texans 21 and older who may legally possess a handgun to carry it without a license.[9]
• Energy & Environment
  In August 2026 paused new data center connections to the power grid pending state audits, and says data centers should pay their own way and supply their own power and water; proposes opening Austin and San Antonio's city-owned electric utilities to retail competition.[10],[1],[4]
• Health Care
  Proposes a lower-cost "Essential Benefits" health insurance plan option for employers with fewer coverage mandates, and copay caps on certain medications.[4]

Voting record

Greg Abbott has not held an office with a recorded voting record. See Background and Where they stand.

In their words