Greg Abbott facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Greg Abbott
Abbott in 2024
48th Governor of Texas
Incumbent
Assumed office January 20, 2015
Lieutenant	Dan Patrick
Preceded by	Rick Perry
Chair of the Republican Governors Association
In office November 21, 2019 – December 9, 2020
Preceded by	Pete Ricketts
Succeeded by	Doug Ducey
50th Attorney General of Texas
In office December 2, 2002 – January 5, 2015
Governor	Rick Perry
Preceded by	John Cornyn
Succeeded by	Ken Paxton
Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas
In office January 2, 1996 – June 6, 2001
Appointed by	George W. Bush
Preceded by	Jack Hightower
Succeeded by	Xavier Rodriguez
Personal details
Born	Gregory Wayne Abbott (1957-11-13) November 13, 1957 (age 68) Wichita Falls, Texas, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Cecilia Phalen ​ (m. 1981)​
Children	1
Residence	Texas Governor's Mansion
Education	University of Texas at Austin (BBA) Vanderbilt University (JD)
Signature
Website

Gregory Wayne Abbott (ABB-ət; born November 13, 1957) is an American politician, lawyer, and judge. He has been the 48th governor of Texas since 2015. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Before becoming governor, he served as the 50th Attorney General of Texas from 2002 to 2015. He was also a judge on the Texas Supreme Court from 1996 to 2001. As of 2025, Governor Abbott was the longest-serving governor in the United States.

Greg Abbott was born in Wichita Falls, Texas. He studied business at the University of Texas at Austin and law at Vanderbilt University. He started his career as a lawyer and then became a judge in Houston. Governor George W. Bush appointed him to the Texas Supreme Court in 1995. He won an election for a full term on the court in 1998.

Abbott became the Attorney General of Texas in 2002 and was reelected twice. He served for 12 years, becoming the longest-serving Attorney General in Texas history. As Attorney General, he supported displaying the Ten Commandments at the Texas State Capitol. He also filed many lawsuits against the federal government, especially regarding environmental rules and healthcare.

He was elected Governor of Texas in 2014. He is the first Texas governor and third U.S. state governor to use a wheelchair. He was reelected in 2018 and 2022, and is running for an unprecedented fourth term in 2026. As governor, Abbott supported the first administration of Donald Trump. He has focused on conservative policies, including gun laws, supporting law enforcement, and election changes. During the power crisis in February 2021, he called for changes to the state's power grid. During the COVID-19 pandemic in Texas, he opposed rules for face masks and vaccines. He also made border security a top priority, starting Operation Lone Star in 2021. Time magazine included Abbott in its Time 100 list in 2024.

Early Life and Education

Growing Up in Texas

Gregory Wayne Abbott was born on November 13, 1957, in Wichita Falls, Texas. His family moved to Longview when he was six, and then to Duncanville when he was 12. His father passed away when Greg was in high school. His mother then worked in real estate. Abbott graduated from Duncanville High School, where he was a member of the track team and the National Honor Society.

College and Law School

In 1981, Abbott earned a degree in finance from the University of Texas at Austin. While there, he was part of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity and the Young Republicans Club. He met his wife, Cecilia Phalen, at UT Austin, and they married in 1981. In 1984, he earned his law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School. After law school, Abbott worked as a private lawyer from 1984 to 1992.

Judicial Career

Serving as a Judge

Abbott's career as a judge began in Houston. He served as a state trial judge in the 129th District Court for three years. In 1995, Governor George W. Bush appointed him to the Texas Supreme Court. He was elected to this court twice, in 1996 and 1998. In 1998, he won with 60% of the votes.

Returning to Private Practice

In 2001, Abbott left the Supreme Court. He then worked as a private lawyer for Bracewell & Giuliani LLC. He also taught law at the University of Texas School of Law.

Attorney General of Texas (2002–2015)

Abbott (bottom) talks about the Harriet Miers nomination with President George W. Bush and former Texas Supreme Court Justices in 2005. From left: Eugene Cook, Raul Gonzalez, Abbott, John Hill, James Baker, Bush, and Craig Enoch

Abbott (center in wheelchair) and Texas Senator John Cornyn highlight Crime Stoppers Month in San Antonio, 2008

Becoming Attorney General

In 2001, Abbott planned to run for lieutenant governor. However, when the Attorney General, John Cornyn, decided to run for the U.S. Senate, Abbott changed his plans. He ran for Attorney General in 2002 and won with 57% of the vote. He was sworn into office on December 2, 2002.

Key Actions as Attorney General

Abbott increased the law enforcement division of the Attorney General's office. He also created a new unit to find convicted individuals who violated their parole or probation. In 2003, he supported a law that limited the amount of money people could receive in medical care lawsuits.

Abbott filed many lawsuits against the federal government during the administration of Barack Obama. These lawsuits challenged various federal rules, including those about environmental protection and healthcare. He became known for his efforts to limit federal government power in Texas.

In 2005, Abbott successfully argued before the United States Supreme Court. He defended the right to display a Ten Commandments monument at the Texas State Capitol. The Supreme Court decided that the display was constitutional.

Abbott also took legal action against Sony BMG in 2005. Texas was the first state to sue the company for secretly installing software on music CDs. This software could create security risks for computer users. Sony later settled the lawsuit.

Gun Laws and Public Safety

As Attorney General, Abbott opposed stricter gun control laws. In 2013, he criticized new gun laws in New York State. He even encouraged New York gun owners to move to Texas. In 2014, he argued against a lawsuit by the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) that aimed to expand access to concealed carry of firearms. He believed this would affect public safety.

Reelections as Attorney General

Abbott was reelected as Attorney General in 2006 with 60% of the vote. He won a third term in 2010 with 64% of the vote. He served as Attorney General for 12 years, making him the longest-serving person in that role in Texas history.

Gubernatorial Campaigns

Running for Governor in 2014

In July 2013, Governor Rick Perry announced he would not seek another term. Greg Abbott then announced his plan to run for governor of Texas. He raised a lot of money for his campaign. He won the Republican primary election in March 2014 with a large majority of votes. He then faced State Senator Wendy Davis in the general election.

Abbott promised to improve pre-kindergarten programs by linking funding to results. He also talked about making education fair for all students. He called for more technology in classrooms and better math teaching for young children. He received support from various industries and was endorsed by several newspapers. He also received an "A" rating from the NRA Political Victory Fund. Abbott defeated Davis by more than 20 percentage points in the November 2014 election.

Gubernatorial Elections in 2018 and 2022

Abbott ran for reelection in 2018. He formally announced his campaign in July 2017. In the November 2018 general election, Abbott defeated Democratic candidate Lupe Valdez with about 56% of the vote.

He ran for a third term in 2022. He won the Republican primary in March 2022 with over 66% of the vote. He then faced former U.S. representative Beto O'Rourke in the general election. Abbott won against O'Rourke with 54% of the vote. This made him the fifth Texas governor to serve three terms.

Running for Governor in 2026

In January 2023, people close to Governor Abbott said he was considering running for a fourth term in 2026. If he serves a full fourth term, he would become the longest-serving governor in Texas history. On November 9, 2025, Abbott announced his candidacy for reelection for a fourth term.

Governor of Texas (2015–present)

Abbott speaking at the 2016 World Travel and Tourism Council conference

Abbott became Governor of Texas on January 20, 2015. He was the first Texas governor and the third U.S. state governor to use a wheelchair. The others were Franklin D. Roosevelt of New York and George Wallace of Alabama.

In 2015, Abbott signed a bill to improve Texas's border security. This included hiring more state police and using more technology. He also met with the Irish Prime Minister, Enda Kenny, to discuss trade.

During Donald Trump's first presidency, Abbott strongly supported Trump. Many people Abbott had appointed to state positions were later appointed to federal courts. In 2021, Trump endorsed Abbott for reelection.

In October 2016, suspicious packages were sent to Abbott and other officials. Abbott's package did not explode when he opened it.

In 2017, Abbott called for a special meeting of the state legislature to pass some of his key laws. He also vetoed 50 bills that year, which was the most since 2007. As governor, Abbott also helped remove a plaque from the Texas State Capitol that was placed by the Children of the Confederacy.

By 2021, Abbott and other state officials were known for promoting strong conservative policies. He focused on "culture war" issues during his 2022 reelection campaign.

College Diversity and Inclusion

In the summer of 2023, Governor Abbott signed Senate Bill 17 into law. This law stopped public colleges and universities in Texas from having offices that focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Supporters of the bill said it would save taxpayer money and promote education based on merit. Critics worried it might lead to discrimination and hurt efforts to make colleges more welcoming to everyone. As a result, many universities had to change their diversity programs. For example, the University of Texas-Austin closed its Division of Campus and Community Engagement.

Constitutional Amendments Proposal

Governor Abbott with President Donald Trump during Hurricane Harvey emergency

In 2016, Abbott suggested a Convention of States to change the U.S. Constitution. He proposed "the Texas Plan", which included nine new amendments. These amendments aimed to limit the power of the federal government and give more power to the states. He believed this would help restore the rule of law in the United States.

COVID-19 Pandemic Response

Abbott speaking with President Donald Trump and members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force in the Oval Office

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Abbott issued a stay-at-home order from April 2 to May 1, 2020. This was one of the shortest orders in the country. After Texas began to reopen, COVID-19 cases increased, causing Abbott to pause the reopening.

Abbott's response to the pandemic was sometimes seen as mixed. He encouraged Texans to stay home but also said Texas was open for business. He also suggested wearing face masks but did not issue a statewide rule for them until July 2020. In December 2020, he told Texas restaurants to ignore local rules that limited late-night dining.

On March 2, 2021, Abbott lifted all COVID-19 restrictions in Texas. This included ending the mask mandate and allowing businesses to fully reopen. In April 2021, he signed an order that banned state agencies and businesses receiving public money from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination. In May 2021, he banned mask mandates in public schools and government offices.

In August 2021, Abbott's office announced he had tested positive for COVID-19. He was in good health and had no symptoms. He received a special antibody treatment. Abbott focused on personal responsibility rather than government rules. He issued an order that stopped local governments, schools, and businesses from requiring masks or proof of vaccination. This order also included a fine for local officials who did not follow it. By November 2024, the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resources Center reported 93,390 COVID-19 deaths in Texas.

Education Initiatives

Abbott supports using government money to help families send their children to private schools. He has tried to pass a bill for "Education Savings Accounts" (ESAs) in several legislative sessions. This bill faced challenges in the Texas House of Representatives, where some lawmakers worried it would hurt public school funding. After the bill failed to pass in 2023, Abbott called special sessions to try and approve the program.

Leading up to the 2024 elections, Abbott campaigned against House Republicans who opposed his voucher program. His goal was to replace them with members who supported his view. This campaign was successful. In 2025, Abbott signed legislation that gave participating families about $10,000 to help cover private school tuition and other expenses.

Environmental Views

Dharmendra Pradhan, India's union minister for petroleum and natural gas and skill development and entrepreneurship in a meeting with Abbott in 2018

As of 2018, Abbott acknowledged that the climate is changing. However, he did not agree with the scientific view that human activity is the main cause. In 2014, he worked with others to create a legal plan to challenge climate change regulations. He supported Scott Pruitt's appointment to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As Texas Attorney General, Abbott often sued the federal government over environmental rules. After Joe Biden became president, Abbott promised to continue challenging federal environmental regulations.

February 2021 Winter Storm

Abbott and President Joe Biden at the Harris County Emergency Operations Center in 2021

During the February 13–17, 2021 North American winter storm, many power plants in Texas failed. This left four million homes without electricity. Abbott called for an investigation and changes to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which manages most of Texas's power grid.

On February 16, Abbott said that the shutdown of wind and solar power contributed to the crisis. However, the Texas energy department later clarified that the main problem was that the state's power grid was not prepared for extreme winter weather. Most power plants in Texas use natural gas. In June 2021, Abbott signed a bill that required power companies to be better prepared for severe weather.

Firearms Policies

In 2015, Abbott signed laws that allowed concealed handguns on public college campuses and open carry of handguns in public areas. In 2017, he signed a bill that lowered the fees for handgun carry licenses. In 2021, he signed a bill that allowed Texans to carry handguns without a license.

Homelessness Initiatives

In June 2019, the city of Austin changed a rule that had banned homeless people from camping or sleeping in public. In October 2019, Abbott criticized this change. He threatened to use state resources to address homelessness in Austin. In November 2019, Abbott directed the state to open a temporary camp for homeless people on state-owned land. Residents of the camp called it "Abbottville."

Immigration and Border Security

Abbott and Secretary of Homeland Security John F. Kelly in a helicopter touring the Mexico–United States border in 2017

In June 2015, Abbott signed a bill to strengthen Texas's border security. In November 2015, he announced that Texas would not accept Syrian refugees. In February 2017, he stopped funding to Travis County, Texas, because of its "sanctuary city" policy. In May 2017, he signed Texas Senate Bill 4, which allowed police officers to check the immigration status of people they detained.

In January 2020, Texas became the first state to refuse to resettle refugees under a new federal rule. In March 2021, Abbott claimed that the federal government was releasing many people with COVID-19 who had crossed the border without permission into Texas. This claim was rated "Mostly False" by PolitiFact.

In June 2021, Abbott ordered state regulators to remove licenses from child-care facilities that housed unaccompanied migrant children. He also announced plans to build a border wall with Mexico. The state provided $250 million, and public donations were also requested.

In July 2021, Abbott told state law enforcement to arrest people crossing the border without permission for trespassing. He also ordered the National Guard to help with these arrests. People arrested under this policy were sometimes held for weeks without legal help. By December 2023, nearly 10,000 people had been arrested on trespassing charges.

In September 2021, Abbott signed laws that spent almost $2 billion on border security, including $750 million for the border wall. In December 2021, Abbott announced that Texas would continue building the U.S. border wall, using the same design as the wall started by Donald Trump.

In April 2022, Abbott announced that Texas would increase inspections of commercial trucks coming from Mexico. This caused long delays for trucks carrying goods, leading to protests and criticism from business owners. Abbott canceled the policy on April 15.

Also in April 2022, Abbott announced a plan to bus people who had crossed the border without permission from Texas to Washington, D.C. He said this was in response to changes in federal immigration policy. The first bus arrived in Washington, D.C., carrying 24 people. In September 2022, Abbott sent two buses with over 100 people to the home of Vice President Kamala Harris.

In June 2023, Abbott placed floating barriers in the Rio Grande to stop illegal border crossings. The U.S. Justice Department sued Abbott and Texas to have these barriers removed. In December 2023, Abbott signed three new border security laws, including one that made illegal immigration a state crime.

Interstate Relations

Abbott authorized the President to call up 400 members of the Texas National Guard to support federal forces in 2025.

Jade Helm 15 Exercise

In April 2015, Abbott asked the Texas State Guard to monitor a military training exercise called Jade Helm 15. This was due to online rumors that the exercise was actually a secret military takeover. In 2018, former CIA director Michael Hayden said that Russian intelligence groups had spread these rumors.

Labor Unions

In 2024, Abbott joined five other Republican governors in a statement. They opposed the United Auto Workers union's efforts to organize workers.

Religious Freedom Laws

In 2015, Abbott signed the Pastor Protection Act. This law allows religious leaders to refuse to marry same-sex couples if it goes against their beliefs. In 2017, he signed a law that prevented state or local governments from demanding copies of pastors' sermons. This law was inspired by an event in Houston.

Also in 2017, Abbott signed a bill that allowed faith-based groups working with the Texas child welfare system to refuse services if they conflicted with their religious beliefs. Critics said this could lead to discrimination against people of different religions or LGBT individuals.

In 2025, Abbott signed Texas Senate Bill 10. This law requires all public schools in Texas to display the Ten Commandments in their classrooms. A federal court had blocked a similar law in Louisiana the day before.

Voting Rights and Elections

Abbott pushed for a review of nearly 100,000 registered voters in Texas. State officials initially claimed these voters were not U.S. citizens. However, the review was canceled in April 2018 after it was found that tens of thousands of legal voters were wrongly flagged. Emails released in June 2019 showed that Abbott was a key force behind this effort.

In September 2020, Abbott issued a rule that each Texas county could only have one location for voters to drop off early voting ballots. He said this would prevent "illegal voting," but he did not provide examples of widespread voter fraud. Election experts say voter fraud is very rare.

After the 2020 presidential election, Abbott made "election integrity" a top priority for new laws. Voting rights groups said the resulting laws made it harder for voters of color and people with disabilities to vote. In July 2021, Democratic lawmakers in Texas left the state to try and block a bill that would change election rules. Abbott threatened to have them arrested when they returned. In October 2021, Abbott appointed John Scott as Texas secretary of state. Scott had previously helped Donald Trump challenge the 2020 election results.

Personal Life

Abbott (far right) and his wife Cecilia (far left) with President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump in 2020

Greg Abbott is Catholic. He is married to Cecilia Phalen Abbott, whose grandparents were Mexican immigrants. They married in San Antonio in 1981. When he became governor, she became the first Latina First Lady of Texas. They have one adopted daughter named Audrey. Cecilia is a former schoolteacher and principal.

Using a Wheelchair

On July 14, 1984, when he was 26 years old, Abbott became paralyzed below the waist. This happened when an oak tree fell on him while he was jogging after a storm. He had surgery to place two steel rods in his spine and underwent a lot of physical therapy. He has used a wheelchair ever since. He sued the homeowner and a tree service company, and the insurance settlement helped him pay for his medical expenses and other costs for many years.

See also

In Spanish: Greg Abbott para niños