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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 2018 (cropped) (2).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 head of government of the U.S. state of Texas. The incumbent, Greg Abbott, is the forty-eighth governor to serve in the office since Texas' statehood in 1845.

When compared to those of other states, the governorship of Texas has been described as one of relative weakness. In some respects, it is the lieutenant governor of Texas, who presides over the Texas Senate, who possesses greater influence to exercise their prerogatives.

Rick Perry is the longest-serving governor, having assumed the governorship in 2000 upon the exit of George W. Bush, who resigned to take office as the 43rd president of the United States. Perry was elected in 2002 and he was re-elected in 2006 and 2010 serving for 14 years before choosing to retire in 2014.

Allan Shivers assumed the governorship upon the death of Beauford Jester in July 1949 and was elected in 1950 and re-elected in 1952 and 1954, serving for 7+12 years, making him the third longest serving governor before choosing to retire in 1956. Price Daniel was elected to the governorship in 1956 and re-elected in 1958 and 1960 before losing his re-election for an unprecedented fourth term in the 1962 Democratic primary, missing the runoff. John Connally was elected in 1962 and re-elected in 1964 and 1966 before choosing to retire in 1968, leaving office on January 21, 1969. Bill Clements served two non-consecutive four-year terms, having been elected in 1978 but lost re-election in 1982 before winning re-election in 1986, choosing to retire in 1990, was the second longest-serving governor: both of Shivers and Clements' records were surpassed by Perry.

Current governor Greg Abbott was elected in 2014 and re-elected in 2018 and again in 2022. With his recent re-election, Abbott is on track to becoming the state's second longest-serving governor with 12 years of service by January 19, 2027.

Governors

Texas was annexed by the United States and admitted to the Union on December 29, 1845.

The governor is inaugurated on the third Tuesday of January every four years along with the lieutenant governor, and serves a term of four years. Prior to the present laws, in 1845, the state's first constitution established the office of governor, serving a term of two years, but no more than four years of every six. The 1861 constitution, following secession from the Union, established the first Monday of November following election as the term's start. Following the end of the American Civil War, the 1866 constitution increased term length to four years, limiting overall service to no more than eight years of every twelve, moving the term's start to the first Thursday following organization of the legislature, or "as soon thereafter as practicable." The constitution of 1869, enacted during Reconstruction, removed term limitations, to this day making Texas one of sixteen states, territory or jurisdiction (including the U.S. Territory Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia with no limit on gubernatorial terms. The present constitution of 1876 returned terms to two years, but a 1972 amendment again returned them to four.

In the case of a vacancy in the office, the lieutenant governor becomes governor. Prior to a 1999 amendment, the lieutenant governor only acted as governor until the expiration of the term to which he succeeded.

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 Sam Houston c1850-crop.jpg 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)
June 17, 1865

August 9, 1866
(successor took office)
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 J.Leonidas J. 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 GovJosephSayers.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 Bush 45 (49492156502).jpg George W. Bush
(b. 1946)
January 17, 1995

December 21, 2000
(resigned)
Republican 1994
1998 Perry, RickRick Perry
47 Rick Perry (20639586210) (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
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