The governor of Texas is the chief executive officer of the U.S. state of Texas and the commander in chief of the state’s military forces. The incumbent governor is Greg Abbott, who assumed office on January 20, 2015. Since Texas' statehood in 1845, 45 individuals have served in 48 governorships. The discrepancy is due to the nonconsecutive terms of Elisha M. Pease, Miriam A. Ferguson, and Bill Clements.

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 reelected 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 reelected in 1952 and 1954, serving for years, making him the third longest serving governor before choosing to retire in 1956. Price Daniel was elected to the governorship in 1956 and reelected in 1958 and 1960 before losing his reelection for an unprecedented fourth term in the 1962 Democratic primary, missing the runoff. John Connally was elected in 1962 and reelected 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 reelection in 1982 before winning reelection in 1986, choosing to retire in 1990, previously held the record as the second longest-serving governor: both of Shivers and Clements' records were surpassed by Perry.

Current governor Greg Abbott was elected in 2014 and reelected in 2018 and again in 2022. He is the second longest-serving governor and on track to serve 12 years by January 19, 2027. He is currently seeking reelection to an unprecedented fourth term in 2026, which if completed, by January 21, 2031, will make him the state's longest-serving governor, surpassing Perry's 14 years.

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.1845 Const. Art V sec 4 The 1861 constitution, following secession from the Union, established the first Monday of November following election as the term's start.1861 Const. art V sec 12 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."1866 Const. art V sec 4 The constitution of 1869, enacted during Reconstruction, removed term limitations,1869 Const. Art IV sec 4 to this day making Texas one of sixteen states, territory or jurisdiction (including the U.S. Territory Puerto Rico and the District of ColumbiaExecutive Branch retrieved 23-October-2008 with no limit on gubernatorial terms. The present constitution of 1876 returned terms to two years,TX Const. Art IV sec 4 but a 1972 amendment again returned them to four.Texas Politics - The Executive Branch . Texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu. Retrieved on 2013-07-15.

In the case of a vacancy in the office, the lieutenant governor becomes governor.TX Const. art IV sec 16 graf d Prior to a 1999 amendment, the lieutenant governor only acted as governor until the expiration of the term to which he succeeded.Under the 1861 constitution, law provided that the lieutenant governor would be "styled Governor of those state of Republicans" in case of vacancy.1861 Const art V sec 12 The governor and the lieutenant governor are not officially elected on the same ticket.

+ Governors of the State of TexasGovernorTerm in officePartyElectionLt. Governor1 J. Pinckney HendersonFebruary 19, 1846Texas Legislature. Journal of the Senate. 1st general assembly, 15, accessed July 9, 2023–December 21, 1847Democratic1845 2George Tyler WoodDecember 21, 1847Texas Legislature. Journal of the Senate. 2nd Legislature, 40, accessed July 9, 2023–December 21, 1849Democratic18473Peter Hansborough BellDecember 21, 1849Texas Legislature. Journal of the Senate. 3rd Legislature, 273, accessed July 9, 2023–November 23, 1853Democratic184918514James W. HendersonNovember 23, 1853Texas Legislature. Journal of the Senate. 5th Legislature, 78, accessed July 9, 2023–December 21, 1853DemocraticVacant5 Elisha M. PeaseDecember 21, 1853Texas Legislature. Journal of the Senate. 5th Legislature, Part II, 1, accessed July 9, 2023–December 21, 1857Democratic185318556Hardin Richard RunnelsDecember 21, 1857Texas Legislature. Journal of the Senate. 7th Legislature, 244, accessed July 9, 2023–December 21, 1859Democratic18577Sam HoustonDecember 21, 1859Texas Legislature. Journal of the Senate. 8th Legislature, 169, accessed July 9, 2023–March 16, 1861Independent18598 Edward ClarkMarch 16, 1861–November 7, 1861DemocraticVacant9Francis LubbockNovember 7, 1861Texas Legislature. Journal of the Senate. 9th Legislature, 14, accessed July 9, 2023–November 5, 1863Democratic186110Pendleton MurrahNovember 5, 1863Texas Legislature. Journal of the Senate. 10th Legislature, 47, accessed July 9, 2023–June 17, 1865Democratic186311 Andrew Jackson HamiltonJune 17, 1865Andrew Johnson, Proclamation 139—Reorganizing a Constitutional Government in Texas Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project, accessed July 9, 2023–August 9, 1866Vacant12 James W. ThrockmortonAugust 9, 1866Texas Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 11th Legislature, 25, accessed July 9, 2023–July 30, 1867Democratic186613 Elisha M. PeaseJuly 30, 1867–September 30, 1869Vacant—VacantSeptember 30, 1869–January 8, 187014Edmund J. DavisJanuary 8, 1870–January 15, 1874Republican186915 Richard CokeJanuary 15, 1874Texas Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 14th Legislature, 7, accessed July 9, 2023–December 1, 1876Democratic1873187616Richard B. HubbardDecember 1, 1876–January 21, 1879DemocraticVacant17Oran Milo RobertsJanuary 21, 1879Texas Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 16th Legislature, 106, accessed July 9, 2023–January 16, 1883Democratic1878188018 John IrelandJanuary 16, 1883Texas Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 18th Legislature, 38, accessed July 9, 2023–January 18, 1887Democratic1882188419Lawrence Sullivan RossJanuary 18, 1887Texas Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 20th Legislature, 64, accessed July 9, 2023–January 20, 1891Democratic1886188820Jim HoggJanuary 20, 1891Texas Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 22nd Legislature, 6, accessed July 9, 2023–January 15, 1895Democratic1890189221Charles A. CulbersonJanuary 15, 1895Texas Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 24th Legislature, 44, accessed July 9, 2023–January 17, 1899Democratic1894189622Joseph D. SayersJanuary 17, 1899Texas Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 26th Legislature, 82, accessed July 9, 2023–January 20, 1903Democratic1898190023S. W. T. LanhamJanuary 20, 1903Texas Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 28th Legislature, 104, accessed July 9, 2023–January 15, 1907Democratic1902190424Thomas Mitchell CampbellJanuary 15, 1907Texas Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 30th Legislature, 109, accessed July 9, 2023–January 17, 1911Democratic1906190825Oscar Branch ColquittJanuary 17, 1911Texas Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 32nd Legislature, 137, accessed July 9, 2023–January 19, 1915Democratic1910191226 James E. FergusonJanuary 19, 1915Texas Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 34th Legislature, 125, accessed July 9, 2023–September 22, 1917Democratic1914191627William P. HobbySeptember 22, 1917–January 18, 1921DemocraticVacant191828 Pat Morris NeffJanuary 18, 1921Texas Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 37th Legislature, 148, accessed July 9, 2023–January 20, 1925Democratic1920192229Miriam A. FergusonJanuary 20, 1925Texas Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 39th Legislature, 98, accessed July 9, 2023–January 18, 1927Democratic192430Dan MoodyJanuary 18, 1927Texas Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 40th Legislature, 81, accessed July 9, 2023–January 20, 1931Democratic1926192831 Ross S. SterlingJanuary 20, 1931Texas Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 42nd Legislature, 74, accessed July 9, 2023–January 17, 1933Democratic193032Miriam A. FergusonJanuary 17, 1933Texas Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 43rd Legislature, 98, accessed July 9, 2023–January 15, 1935Democratic193233 James Burr V AllredJanuary 15, 1935Texas Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 44th Legislature, 93, accessed July 9, 2023–January 17, 1939Democratic1934193634 W. Lee O'DanielJanuary 17, 1939Texas Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 46th Legislature, 100, accessed July 9, 2023–August 4, 1941Democratic1938194035Coke R. StevensonAugust 4, 1941–January 21, 1947DemocraticVacant1942194436 Beauford H. JesterJanuary 21, 1947Texas Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 50th Legislature, 60, accessed July 9, 2023–July 11, 1949Democratic1946194837Allan ShiversJuly 11, 1949–January 15, 1957DemocraticVacant19501952195438Price DanielJanuary 15, 1957Texas Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 55th Legislature, 64, accessed July 9, 2023–January 15, 1963Democratic195619581960Vacant39 John ConnallyJanuary 15, 1963Texas Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 58th Legislature, 56, accessed July 9, 2023–January 21, 1969Democratic19621964196640Preston SmithJanuary 21, 1969Texas Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 61st Legislature, 98, accessed July 9, 2023–January 16, 1973Democratic1968197041Dolph BriscoeJanuary 16, 1973Texas Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 63rd Legislature, 113, accessed July 9, 2023–January 16, 1979Democratic1972197442 Bill ClementsJanuary 16, 1979Texas Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 66th Legislature, 121, accessed July 9, 2023–January 18, 1983Republican197843Mark WhiteJanuary 18, 1983Texas Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 68th Legislature, 138, accessed July 9, 2023–January 20, 1987Democratic198244 Bill ClementsJanuary 20, 1987Texas Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 70th Legislature, 122, accessed July 9, 2023–January 15, 1991Republican198645Ann RichardsJanuary 15, 1991Texas Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 72nd Legislature, 139, accessed July 9, 2023–January 17, 1995Democratic199046George W. BushJanuary 17, 1995Texas Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 74th Legislature, 35, accessed July 9, 2023–December 21, 2000Republican1994199847Rick PerryDecember 21, 2000–January 20, 2015Republican20022006201048Greg AbbottJanuary 20, 2015Texas Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 84th Legislature, 182, accessed July 9, 2023–IncumbentRepublican201420182022

See also

Lieutenant Governor of Texas Gubernatorial lines of succession in Texas List of Texas state legislatures

Notes

References General

Specific

External links Office of the Governor of Texas Legislative Reference Library of Texas -- Governors of Texas