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List of governors of Texas facts for kids

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Governor of Texas
Flag of the Governor of Texas.svg
Gubernatorial standard
Seal of the Governor of Texas.svg
Gubernatorial seal
Greg Abbott 2015.jpg
Incumbent
Greg Abbott

since January 20, 2015
Style
Residence Texas Governor's Mansion
Term length Four years, no term limit
Inaugural holder James Pinckney Henderson
1846
Formation Texas Constitution
Salary $150,000 (2013)

The governor of Texas is the main leader of the government in the U.S. state of Texas. The person holding this job right now is Greg Abbott. He is the 48th governor to serve Texas since it became a state in 1845.

Compared to governors in some other states, the Texas governor has less power. In fact, the lieutenant governor of Texas, who leads the Texas Senate, often has more influence.

Rick Perry served as governor for the longest time. He became governor in 2000 when George W. Bush left to become the 43rd president of the United States. Perry was elected in 2002 and won re-election in 2006 and 2010. He served for 14 years before deciding not to run again in 2014.

Allan Shivers became governor in July 1949 after Beauford Jester passed away. Shivers was elected in 1950, 1952, and 1954. He served for 7 and a half years, making him the third longest-serving governor. Bill Clements also served two terms, from 1979 to 1983 and again from 1987 to 1991. Both Shivers' and Clements' records were later passed by Rick Perry.

The current governor, Greg Abbott, was first elected in 2014. He won re-election in 2018 and again in 2022. He is on track to serve 12 years by January 19, 2027.

How Texas Governors Are Chosen

Texas officially joined the United States on December 29, 1845. This is when the role of governor for the state began.

The governor starts their term on the third Tuesday of January every four years. The lieutenant governor also begins their term at the same time.

In the past, the rules for governors were different. The first state constitution in 1845 said a governor would serve for two years. They could serve no more than four years out of every six. After the American Civil War, the 1866 constitution changed the term to four years. It also limited a governor to serving no more than eight years out of every twelve.

However, the constitution of 1869 removed these limits. Today, Texas is one of many states where there is no limit on how many terms a governor can serve. The current constitution, from 1876, first returned terms to two years. But a change in 1972 made them four years again.

If the governor's office becomes empty, the lieutenant governor steps in and becomes the new governor. Before 1999, the lieutenant governor would only act as governor until the term ended. It's important to know that the governor and lieutenant governor are not elected together on the same ballot.


Governors of the State of Texas
No. Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor
1 James Pinckney Henderson-p.jpg   J. Pinckney Henderson
(1808–1858)
February 19, 1846

December 21, 1847
(did not run)
Democratic 1845   Horton, Albert ClintonAlbert Clinton Horton
2 George wood.jpg George Tyler Wood
(1795–1858)
December 21, 1847

December 21, 1849
(lost election)
Democratic 1847 Greer, John AlexanderJohn Alexander Greer
3 Peter bell.jpg Peter Hansborough Bell
(1810–1898)
December 21, 1849

November 23, 1853
(resigned)
Democratic 1849
1851 Henderson, James W.James W. Henderson
4 James w henderson.jpg James W. Henderson
(1817–1880)
November 23, 1853

December 21, 1853
(successor took office)
Democratic Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
5 Elisha pease.jpg Elisha M. Pease
(1812–1883)
December 21, 1853

December 21, 1857
(term-limited)
Democratic 1853 Dickson, David CatchingsDavid Catchings Dickson
1855 Runnels, Hardin RichardHardin Richard Runnels
6 Hardin runnels.jpg Hardin Richard Runnels
(1820–1873)
December 21, 1857

December 21, 1859
(lost election)
Democratic 1857 Lubbock, FrancisFrancis Lubbock
7 Hon. Sam Houston, Texas - NARA - 527675-crop.png Sam Houston
(1793–1863)
December 21, 1859

March 16, 1861
(removed)
Independent 1859 Clark, EdwardEdward Clark
8 Edward clark.jpg Edward Clark
(1815–1880)
March 16, 1861

November 7, 1861
(lost election)
Democratic Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
9 Francis lubbock.jpg Francis Lubbock
(1815–1905)
November 7, 1861

November 5, 1863
(did not run)
Democratic 1861 Crockett, John McClannahanJohn McClannahan Crockett
10 Pendleton murrah.jpg Pendleton Murrah
(d. 1865)
November 5, 1863

June 17, 1865
(office vacated)
Democratic 1863 Stockdale, FletcherFletcher Stockdale
11 Andrew Jackson Hamilton.jpg Andrew Jackson Hamilton
(1815–1875)
Military governor
appointed by President
Vacant
12 James W. Throckmorton - Brady-Handy.jpg James W. Throckmorton
(1825–1894)
August 9, 1866

July 30, 1867
(removed)
Democratic 1866 Jones, George WashingtonGeorge Washington Jones
13 Elisha pease.jpg Elisha M. Pease
(1812–1883)
July 30, 1867

September 30, 1869
(resigned)
Installed by
military occupation
Vacant
Vacant
September 30, 1869

January 8, 1870
Office vacated
after resignation
14 Edmund Davis.jpg Edmund J. Davis
(1827–1883)
January 8, 1870

January 15, 1874
(lost election)
Republican 1869
15 Richard Coke - Brady-Handy (cropped).jpg Richard Coke
(1829–1897)
January 15, 1874

December 1, 1876
(resigned)
Democratic 1873 Hubbard, Richard B.Richard B. Hubbard
1876
16 Richard hubbard.jpg Richard B. Hubbard
(1832–1901)
December 1, 1876

January 21, 1879
(did not run)
Democratic Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
17 Oran roberts.jpg Oran Milo Roberts
(1815–1898)
January 21, 1879

January 16, 1883
(did not run)
Democratic 1878 Sayers, Joseph D.Joseph D. Sayers
1880 Storey, Leonidas JeffersonLeonidas Jefferson Storey
18 John ireland.jpg John Ireland
(1827–1896)
January 16, 1883

January 18, 1887
(did not run)
Democratic 1882 Martin, Francis MarionFrancis Marion Martin
1884 Gibbs, BarnettBarnett Gibbs
19 Lawrence Sullivan "Sul" Ross.jpg Lawrence Sullivan Ross
(1838–1898)
January 18, 1887

January 20, 1891
(did not run)
Democratic 1886 Wheeler, Thomas BentonThomas Benton Wheeler
1888
20 Jim hogg.jpg Jim Hogg
(1851–1906)
January 20, 1891

January 15, 1895
(did not run)
Democratic 1890 Pendleton, George C.George C. Pendleton
1892 Crane, Martin McNultyMartin McNulty Crane
21 Charles Allen Culberson.jpg Charles A. Culberson
(1855–1925)
January 15, 1895

January 17, 1899
(did not run)
Democratic 1894 Jester, George TaylorGeorge Taylor Jester
1896
22 Joseph D. Sayers (cropped).jpg Joseph D. Sayers
(1841–1929)
January 17, 1899

January 20, 1903
(did not run)
Democratic 1898 Browning, JamesJames Browning
1900
23 Swtlanham.jpg S. W. T. Lanham
(1846–1908)
January 20, 1903

January 15, 1907
(did not run)
Democratic 1902 Neal, George D.George D. Neal
1904
24 T.M. Campbell, Governor, Bain portrait bust.jpg Thomas Mitchell Campbell
(1856–1923)
January 15, 1907

January 17, 1911
(did not run)
Democratic 1906 Davidson, Asbury BascomAsbury Bascom Davidson
1908
25 Oscar Branch Colquitt.jpg Oscar Branch Colquitt
(1861–1940)
January 17, 1911

January 19, 1915
(did not run)
Democratic 1910
1912 Mayes, William HardingWilliam Harding Mayes
26 James E. Ferguson.jpg James E. Ferguson
(1871–1944)
January 19, 1915

September 22, 1917
(impeached and removed)
Democratic 1914 Hobby, William P.William P. Hobby
1916
27 William hobby.jpg William P. Hobby
(1878–1964)
September 22, 1917

January 18, 1921
(did not run)
Democratic Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
1918 Johnson, Willard ArnoldWillard Arnold Johnson
28 PatMNeff.jpg Pat Morris Neff
(1871–1952)
January 18, 1921

January 20, 1925
(did not run)
Democratic 1920 Davidson, LynchLynch Davidson
1922 Davidson, Thomas WhitfieldThomas Whitfield Davidson
29 Miriam A. Ferguson.jpg Miriam A. Ferguson
(1875–1961)
January 20, 1925

January 18, 1927
(lost nomination)
Democratic 1924 Miller, BarryBarry Miller
30 DanMoody.jpg Dan Moody
(1893–1966)
January 18, 1927

January 20, 1931
(did not run)
Democratic 1926
1928
31 Ross Sterling.png Ross S. Sterling
(1875–1949)
January 20, 1931

January 17, 1933
(lost nomination)
Democratic 1930 Witt, Edgar E.Edgar E. Witt
32 Miriam A. Ferguson.jpg Miriam A. Ferguson
(1875–1961)
January 17, 1933

January 15, 1935
(did not run)
Democratic 1932
33 James Allred.png James Burr V Allred
(1899–1959)
January 15, 1935

January 17, 1939
(did not run)
Democratic 1934 Woodul, Walter FrankWalter Frank Woodul
1936
34 W. Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel, 1939 (cropped) (3x4).jpg W. Lee O'Daniel
(1890–1969)
January 17, 1939

August 4, 1941
(resigned)
Democratic 1938 Stevenson, Coke R.Coke R. Stevenson
1940
35 Coke R. Stevenson.jpg Coke R. Stevenson
(1888–1975)
August 4, 1941

January 21, 1947
(did not run)
Democratic Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
1942 Smith, John LeeJohn Lee Smith
1944
36 Beauford H. Jester.jpg Beauford H. Jester
(1893–1949)
January 21, 1947

July 11, 1949
(died in office)
Democratic 1946 Shivers, AllanAllan Shivers
1948
37 Allan Shivers.jpg Allan Shivers
(1907–1985)
July 11, 1949

January 15, 1957
(did not run)
Democratic Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
1950 Ramsey, BenBen Ramsey
1952
1954
38 Price Daniel (TX).png Price Daniel
(1910–1988)
January 15, 1957

January 15, 1963
(lost nomination)
Democratic 1956
1958
1960
Vacant
39 John Connally (TX).png John Connally
(1917–1993)
January 15, 1963

January 21, 1969
(did not run)
Democratic 1962 Smith, PrestonPreston Smith
1964
1966
40 Smith-p01-1.jpg Preston Smith
(1912–2003)
January 21, 1969

January 16, 1973
(lost nomination)
Democratic 1968 Barnes, BenBen Barnes
1970
41 Dolph Briscoe, 1976.jpg Dolph Briscoe
(1923–2010)
January 16, 1973

January 16, 1979
(lost nomination)
Democratic 1972 Hobby Jr., William P.William P. Hobby Jr.
1974
42 Bill Clements 1st term portrait.jpg Bill Clements
(1917–2011)
January 16, 1979

January 18, 1983
(lost election)
Republican 1978
43 Mark White Portrait.jpg Mark White
(1940–2017)
January 18, 1983

January 20, 1987
(lost election)
Democratic 1982
44 Bill Clements 2nd term portrait.jpg Bill Clements
(1917–2011)
January 20, 1987

January 15, 1991
(did not run)
Republican 1986
45 Ann Richards, Governor of Texas.jpg Ann Richards
(1933–2006)
January 15, 1991

January 17, 1995
(lost election)
Democratic 1990 Bullock, BobBob Bullock
46 George-W-Bush.jpeg George W. Bush
(b. 1946)
January 17, 1995

December 21, 2000
(resigned)
Republican 1994
1998 Perry, RickRick Perry
47 Rick Perry by Gage Skidmore 3 (cropped).jpg Rick Perry
(b. 1950)
December 21, 2000

January 20, 2015
(did not run)
Republican Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Ratliff, BillBill Ratliff
2002 Dewhurst, DavidDavid Dewhurst
2006
2010
48 Greg Abbott 2015.jpg Greg Abbott
(b. 1957)
January 20, 2015

Incumbent
Republican 2014 Patrick, DanDan Patrick
2018
2022

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anexo:Gobernantes de Texas para niños

  • Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#Texas
  • List of Texas state legislatures
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