Governor of Texas

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Texas Governor

TX Gov logo.JPG

General information
Office Type:  Partisan
Office website:  Official Link
Compensation:  $153,750
2025 FY Budget:  $15,129,312
Term limits:  None
Structure
Length of term:   4 years
Authority:  Texas Constitution, Article 4, Section 1
Selection Method:  Elected
Current Officeholder

Governor of Texas Greg Abbott
Republican Party
Assumed office: January 20, 2015

Elections
Next election:  November 3, 2026
Last election:  November 8, 2022
Other Texas Executive Offices
Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Comptroller • Auditor • Education Commissioner • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Land Commissioner • Workforce Commission • Public Utility Commission • Railroad Commission

The Governor of Texas is the chief executive of the state of Texas and is elected by the citizens every four years. The governor has the power to: sign and veto bills passed by the state legislature, serve as commander-in-chief of the state's military forces, convene special sessions of the legislature, grant reprieves and pardons, and fill vacant positions via appointment. Additionally, the governor is responsible for delivering the "State of the State" address and an annual state budget report and budget recommendation.


Texas has a Republican trifecta. The Republican Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature.


Texas has a Republican triplex. The Republican Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.

See also: Texas State Legislature, Texas House of Representatives, Texas State Senate

Current officeholder

The 48th and current governor is Greg Abbott (R). He assumed office on January 20, 2015, succeeding Rick Perry (R). Perry was the longest-serving governor in state history with a tenure lasting from 2000 to 2015. Abbott previously served as the Attorney General of Texas from 2002 to 2015.[1]

Authority

The Governor's powers, term of office, qualifications, and installation are established by Article 4 of the Texas Constitution.[2]

Article 4, Section 1:

The Executive Department of the State shall consist of a Governor, who shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the State...

Qualifications

Article 4, Section 4 of the Texas Constitution establishes the qualifications of office as such:[3]

He shall be at least thirty years of age, a citizen of the United States, and shall have resided in this State at least five years immediately preceding his election.

Additionally, the Governor:

...shall not hold any other office: civil, military or corporate; nor shall he practice any profession, and receive compensation, reward, fee, or the promise thereof for the same; nor receive any salary, reward or compensation or the promise thereof from any person or corporation, for any service rendered or performed during the time he is Governor, or to be thereafter rendered or performed.

Elections

Texas elects governors in the midterm elections, that is, even years that are not presidential election years. For Texas, 2018, 2022, 2026, 2030, and 2034 are all gubernatorial election years. Legally, the gubernatorial inauguration is always set for the "first Tuesday after the organization of the Legislature, or as soon thereafter as practicable."[4]

If two candidates tie for the most votes or if an election is contested, a joint session of the legislature shall cast ballots to resolve the issue.[3]

Term limits

See also: States with gubernatorial term limits

Texas governors do not face any term limits.[3]

Partisan composition

The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Office of the Governor of Texas from 1992 to 2013.

Governor of Texas Partisanship.PNG

2022

See also: Texas gubernatorial election, 2022

General election

General election for Governor of Texas

The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Texas on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Greg Abbott
Greg Abbott (R)
 
54.8
 
4,437,099
Image of Beto O'Rourke
Beto O'Rourke (D)
 
43.9
 
3,553,656
Image of Mark Tippetts
Mark Tippetts (L) Candidate Connection
 
1.0
 
81,932
Image of Delilah Barrios
Delilah Barrios (G)
 
0.4
 
28,584
Image of Jacqueline Abernathy
Jacqueline Abernathy (Independent) (Write-in) Candidate Connection
 
0.0
 
1,243
Image of Mark Goloby
Mark Goloby (Independent) (Write-in) Candidate Connection
 
0.0
 
394

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 8,102,908
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Texas

Beto O'Rourke defeated Joy Diaz, Michael Cooper, Rich Wakeland, and Inocencio Barrientez in the Democratic primary for Governor of Texas on March 1, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Beto O'Rourke
Beto O'Rourke
 
91.4
 
983,182
Image of Joy Diaz
Joy Diaz Candidate Connection
 
3.1
 
33,622
Image of Michael Cooper
Michael Cooper
 
3.0
 
32,673
Image of Rich Wakeland
Rich Wakeland Candidate Connection
 
1.2
 
13,237
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Inocencio Barrientez
 
1.2
 
12,887

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 1,075,601
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Texas

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Governor of Texas on March 1, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Greg Abbott
Greg Abbott
 
66.5
 
1,299,059
Image of Allen B. West
Allen B. West Candidate Connection
 
12.3
 
239,557
Image of Donald Huffines
Donald Huffines
 
12.0
 
234,138
Image of Chad Prather
Chad Prather
 
3.8
 
74,173
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Rick Perry
 
3.1
 
61,424
Image of Kandy Kaye Horn
Kandy Kaye Horn Candidate Connection
 
1.2
 
23,605
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Paul Belew
 
0.6
 
11,387
Image of Daniel Harrison
Daniel Harrison Candidate Connection
 
0.6
 
10,829

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 1,954,172
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Green convention

Green convention for Governor of Texas

Delilah Barrios advanced from the Green convention for Governor of Texas on April 9, 2022.

Candidate
✔
Image of Delilah Barrios
Delilah Barrios (G)

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for Governor of Texas

Mark Tippetts defeated Fidel Castillo in the Libertarian convention for Governor of Texas on April 10, 2022.

Candidate
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Fidel Castillo (L)
✔
Image of Mark Tippetts
Mark Tippetts (L) Candidate Connection

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

2018

See also: Texas gubernatorial election, 2018

General election

General election for Governor of Texas

Incumbent Greg Abbott defeated Lupe Valdez and Mark Tippetts in the general election for Governor of Texas on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Greg Abbott
Greg Abbott (R)
 
55.8
 
4,656,196
Image of Lupe Valdez
Lupe Valdez (D)
 
42.5
 
3,546,615
Image of Mark Tippetts
Mark Tippetts (L)
 
1.7
 
140,632

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 8,343,443
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary runoff election

Democratic primary runoff for Governor of Texas

Lupe Valdez defeated Andrew White in the Democratic primary runoff for Governor of Texas on May 22, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Lupe Valdez
Lupe Valdez
 
53.0
 
224,091
Image of Andrew White
Andrew White
 
47.0
 
198,407

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 422,498
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Texas

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Governor of Texas on March 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Lupe Valdez
Lupe Valdez
 
42.9
 
435,484
✔
Image of Andrew White
Andrew White
 
27.4
 
278,333
Image of Cedric Davis
Cedric Davis
 
8.3
 
83,817
Image of Grady Yarbrough
Grady Yarbrough
 
5.4
 
54,372
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Jeffrey Payne
 
4.8
 
48,269
Image of Adrian Ocegueda
Adrian Ocegueda
 
4.4
 
44,681
Image of Thomas Wakely
Thomas Wakely
 
3.4
 
34,737
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
James Clark
 
2.2
 
21,871
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Joe Mumbach
 
1.4
 
13,878

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 1,015,442
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Texas

Incumbent Greg Abbott defeated Barbara Krueger and Larry SECEDE Kilgore in the Republican primary for Governor of Texas on March 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Greg Abbott
Greg Abbott
 
90.4
 
1,389,562
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Barbara Krueger
 
8.3
 
127,134
Image of Larry SECEDE Kilgore
Larry SECEDE Kilgore
 
1.3
 
20,384

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 1,537,080
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Full history

2014

See also: Texas gubernatorial election, 2014

Republican Greg Abbott won election on November 4, 2014.

Governor of Texas, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngGreg Abbott 59.3% 2,796,547
     Democratic Wendy Davis 38.9% 1,835,596
     Libertarian Kathie Glass 1.4% 66,543
     Green Brandon Parmer 0.4% 18,520
     Write-in Sarah Pavitt 0% 1,062
Total Votes 4,718,268
Election results via Texas Secretary of State


Vacancies

See also: How gubernatorial vacancies are filled

Article 4, Section 16 of the Texas Constitution defines the method by which a vacancy of the Governor's office is filled:

(c) In the case of the temporary inability or temporary disqualification of the Governor to serve, the impeachment of the Governor, or the absence of the Governor from the State, the Lieutenant Governor shall exercise the powers and authority appertaining to the office of Governor until the Governor becomes able or qualified to resume serving, is acquitted, or returns to the State.

(d) If the Governor refuses to serve or becomes permanently unable to serve, or if the office of Governor becomes vacant, the Lieutenant Governor becomes Governor for the remainder of the term being served by the Governor who refused or became unable to serve or vacated the office. On becoming Governor, the person vacates the office of Lieutenant Governor, and the resulting vacancy in the office of Lieutenant Governor shall be filled in the manner provided by Section 9, Article III, of this Constitution.

Duties

The constitutional and statutory duties of the governor include:

  • Signing or vetoing bills passed by the Legislature.
  • Serving as commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.
  • Convening special sessions of the Legislature for specific purposes.
  • Delivering a report on the condition of the state to the Legislature at the beginning of each regular session.
  • Estimating of the amounts of money required to be raised by taxation.
  • Accounting for all public monies received and paid out by him and recommending a budget for the next two years.
  • Granting reprieves and commutations of punishment and pardons upon the recommendation of the Board of Pardons and *Paroles and revoking conditional pardons.
  • Declaring special elections to fill vacancies in certain elected offices.
  • Appointing qualified Texans to state offices that carry out the laws and direct the policies of state government. Some *of these offices are filled by appointment only. Others are ordinarily elected by the people, but the governor must occasionally appoint individuals to fill vacancies. The governor also appoints Texans to a wide range of advisory bodies and task forces that assist him with specific issues."[5]

Divisions

Texas

The Office of the Governor consists of a number councils, committees, and divisions comprised of leaders and experts from diverse backgrounds who provide technical assistance to the Governor across of range of policy areas. They provide research, advice, and organizational leadership to the Governor in support of a "vision for a better, more prosperous Texas."[6] The Office of the Governor is comprised as follows:

Appointments Office

The Appointment Office is a team devoted to assisting the Governor in identifying, recruiting, and hiring talented individuals for the many positions that must be filled in a gubernatorial term.
Appointment is an executive power under which the Governor selects individuals to head state government bodies, councils, and bureaucracies. Appointment power is granted to the governor by the Texas Constitution. '"Article 4, Section 12" states: "All vacancies in State or district offices, except members of the Legislature, shall be filled unless otherwise provided by law by appointment of the Governor."[3] The appointment of officials is one of the most influential methods by which the Governor executes the policies enacted by the legislature. Approximately 3,000 appointments will be made during a four-year term.[7]



Governor's Standard

Budget and Policy

"The Budget, Planning and Policy Division advises the Governor regarding state fiscal matters in support of his statutory role as Texas' Chief budget officer. The division also:
  • Prepares the Governor's biennial budget recommendations to the Legislature.
  • Monitors state appropriations and operations.
  • Analyzes fiscal and economic issues.
  • Performs other duties determined by the Governor."[8]



Child Sex Trafficking Team

The Child Sex Trafficking Team (CSTT) helps to end human trafficking and promote policies to end the exploitation of children and help victims of sexual trafficking recover.[9]



Commission for Women


Texas First Lady Anita Perry on the Governor's Commission for Women
The Governor's Commission for Women specializes in research, education, referral services, and outreach in support of helping "Texas women live healthier, more productive and more prosperous lives."[10]
Contact Women's Commission
Toll-Free: (800) 839-5323
Phone: (512) 475-2615
Fax: (512) 463-1832
Email: women@governor.state.tx.us
Address:1100 San Jacinto, Austin, Texas 78701

Committee on People with Disabilities

The mission of the Committee on People with Disabilities is "to further opportunities for persons with disabilities to enjoy full and equal access to lives of independence, productivity, and self-determination."[11]
The Committee advises the Governor on policies and programs in areas that affect the lives of the disabled, while also promoting awareness of and compliance with disability laws in Texas. Areas of focus include: accessibility, communication, education, emergency preparedness, health, housing, recreation, transportation, veterans and workforce.[11]



Constituent Communication

Constituent Communication is the Texas citizenry's connection to the Governor. The division reviews and responds to letters, emails, phone calls, and faxes from constituents.



Criminal Justice Division

The mission of the Criminal Justice Division is "to create and support programs that protect people from crime, reduce the number of crimes committed, and to promote accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness within the criminal justice system."[12]
The division administers various forms of state and federal grant funding that adhere to the following two goals: "1) encourage innovative solutions and 2) provide for local control."[12] Further, the CJD assists and advises the governor across a range of programs and policy areas within the Texas criminal justice system - ranging from coordinating state and local efforts to measuring the performance of community-based programs to evaluating juvenile justice procedures and programs.[12]



Economic Development

The Economic Development division operates a range of programs and activities aimed at promoting the state of Texas in the national and international spheres as a place for business development and location, as well as a premiere travel location. The division is composed of the following focus areas:
  • Texas Business Development
  • The Office of Aerospace and Aviation
  • The Economic Development Bank
  • Small Business Assistance
  • Texas Tourism
  • Texas Military Preparedness Division



Financial Services

The mission of Financial Services is to ensure "that all financial transactions in the governor’s office set the highest standard for the state."[13]



General Counsel

The Office of General Counsel "provides legal advice to the Governor and his team, handling the broad range of issues encountered in leading the second largest state in the nation."[14]



Homeland Security

Established in 2003, the Governor's Office of Homeland Security's mission is " to protect Texans, as well as the State’s critical infrastructure and key resources, from all threats."[15] The Office accomplishes this mission by assisting the state in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from natural and manmade disasters.



Human Resources

The Human Resources Division handles all hiring and personnel issues for positions within the Office of the Governor. Human Resources also manages the Texas Governor's Fellowship Program.



Press Office

The Press Office serves as the conduit of communication between the Governor and the press. The Office conveys the Governor's perspectives on policy matters, current events, and pressing issues to journalists and reporters as a primary method of communicating with the people of Texas.[16]



Scheduling and Advance

Scheduling and Advance is "responsible for responding to requests for the Governor’s time in an efficient and courteous manner, as well as organizing the logistics of the governor’s attendance at local, state, national and international events. This office creates a clear, concise schedule for the governor on a daily basis."[17]



Texas Film Commission

The Texas Film Commission was created in 1979 to ""encourage the orderly development of the film, television, and multi-media production industry in Texas in order to utilize the state's vast array of natural, human, and economic resources which are uniquely suitable for that industry."[18]



Texas Healthcare Policy Council

The mission of the Texas Healthcare Policy Council is to "research, analyze, and provide recommendations on ways to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of the health care system in Texas." The Council furthers this mission by conducting research into efective health care solutions, ensuring collaboration amongst state and local health care providers, assisting communities in assessing their heath care needs, and assisting the Governor with various health care related issues as they arise.



Texas Music Office

The mission of the Texas Music Office is to serve "as the information clearinghouse and promotion office for the Texas music industry."[19]



Texas Workforce Investment Council

The mission of the Texas Workforce Investment Council is to assist "the Governor and the Legislature with strategic planning for and evaluation of the Texas workforce development system, which is composed of eight state agencies and 25 diverse and dynamic programs. The Council’s strategic priority is to promote the linkage of education, workforce and economic development in order to leverage resources, increase collaboration among state and local partners, and build the pipeline of skilled workers that Texas must have to prosper in the 21st century."[20]



State budget

Role in state budget

See also: Texas state budget and finances

The state operates on a biennial budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[21]

  1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies beginning in June.
  2. Agencies submit their budget requests to the governor between July and September.
  3. Public hearings are held between July and October.
  4. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature by the date of the State of the State address.
  5. The legislature typically adopts a budget in May. A simple majority is required to pass a budget. The fiscal year begins in September.

Texas is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[21][22]

The legislature is constitutionally required to adopt a balanced budget. The governor must sign a balanced budget into law.[21]

Governor's office budget

The budget for the Governor's Office in Fiscal Year 2025 was $15,129,312.[23]

Compensation

See also: Comparison of gubernatorial salaries and Compensation of state executive officers

DocumentIcon.jpg See statutes: Texas Statutes Title 6, Chapter 659

The governor, along with the rest of Texas' executive officers, is entitled by Article 4, Section 5 of the Texas Constitution to receive an annual salary, pursuant to Title 6, Section 659.011 of the Texas Statutes. The legislature was empowered to set the salaries of executive branch officers by a 1954 constitutional amendment. Prior to that, the constitution stipulated the salary amounts paid to each officer.[24] The amounts are fixed by the biennial General Appropriations Act.

2022

In 2022, the officer's salary was $153,750, according to the Council of State Governments.[25]

2021

In 2021, the governor received a salary of $153,750, according to the Council of State Governments.[26]

2020

In 2020, the governor’s salary was increased to $153,750, according to the Council of State Governments.[27]

2019

In 2019, the governor’s salary was increased to $153,750, according to the Council of State Governments.[28]

2018

In 2018, the governor’s salary was increased to $153,750, according to the Council of State Governments.[29]

2017

In 2017, the governor’s salary was increased to $153,750, according to the Council of State Governments.[30]

2016

In 2016, the governor’s salary was increased to $153,750, according to the Council of State Governments.[31]

2015

In 2015, the governor received a salary of $150,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[32]

2014

In 2014, the governor received a salary of $150,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[33]

2013

In 2013, the governor's salary remained at $150,000.[34]

2010

In 2010, the Texas Governor was paid an estimated $150,000 according to the Council of State Governments, the 11th highest gubernatorial salary in America.[35]

Historical officeholders

Texas
Standard Of Governor Of Texas.svg

From 1846-present, the state of Texas has had 48 governors. Of the 48 governors, 40 were Democratic, six were Republican, one was an Independent and one was a Unionist.[36]

Click "show" for Texas former governors from 1846 to present.

History

Partisan balance 1992-2013

Who Runs the States Project
See also: Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States and Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States, Texas
Partisan breakdown of the Texas governorship from 1992-2013

From 1992-2013, in Texas there were Democratic governors in office for the first three years while there were Republican governors in office for the last 19 years. Texas is one of eight states that were run by a Republican governor for more than 80 percent of the years between 1992-2013. Texas was under Republican trifectas for the last 11 years of the study period.

Across the country, there were 493 years of Democratic governors (44.82%) and 586 years of Republican governors (53.27%) from 1992 to 2013.

Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.

The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Office of the Governor of Texas, the Texas State Senate and the Texas House of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.

Partisan composition of Texas state government(1992-2013).PNG

SQLI and partisanship

Texas was one of eight states to demonstrate a dramatic partisan shift in the 22 years studied. A dramatic shift was defined by a movement of 40 percent or more toward one party over the course of the study period. Texas started out with Democratic trifectas but shifted to Republican trifectas by the end of the study.

The chart below depicts the partisanship of the Texas state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. Prior to Republican trifectas, which started in 2003, the SQLI rating for Texas stayed consistently in the 30s, except for its lowest ranking of 40 in 1994 during a Democratic trifecta. Within a few years of the Republican trifectas that ranking moved up, and Texas finished 11th, its highest ranking, in 2012.

  • SQLI average with Democratic trifecta: 36.67
  • SQLI average with Republican trifecta: 18.00
  • SQLI average with divided government: 33.63
Chart displaying the partisanship of Texas government from 1992-2013 and the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI).

State profile

Demographic data for Texas
 TexasU.S.
Total population:27,429,639316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):261,2323,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:74.9%73.6%
Black/African American:11.9%12.6%
Asian:4.2%5.1%
Native American:0.5%0.8%
Pacific Islander:0.1%0.2%
Two or more:2.5%3%
Hispanic/Latino:38.4%17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:81.9%86.7%
College graduation rate:27.6%29.8%
Income
Median household income:$53,207$53,889
Persons below poverty level:19.9%11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Texas.
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

Presidential voting pattern

See also: Presidential voting trends in Texas

Texas voted Republican in all six presidential elections between 2000 and 2020.

Pivot Counties (2016)

Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, one is located in Texas, accounting for 0.5 percent of the total pivot counties.[37]

Pivot Counties (2020)

In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Texas had one Retained Pivot County, 0.55 percent of all Retained Pivot Counties.

More Texas coverage on Ballotpedia

Contact information

Physical Address:
Office of the Governor
State Insurance Building
1100 San Jacinto
Austin, Texas 78701

Mailing Address:
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, Texas 78711-2428

Phone: 512-463-2000
Fax: 512-463-1849

See also

Texas State Executive Elections News and Analysis
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Texas State Executive Offices
Texas State Legislature
Texas Courts
2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016
Texas elections: 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016
Party control of state government
State government trifectas
State of the state addresses
Partisan composition of governors

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Office of the Texas Governor, "Texas Governor Greg Abbott," accessed January 13, 2021
  2. ↑ Texas Constitution and Statutes, "ARTICLE 4. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT," accessed January 13, 2021
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 The Texas Constitution, "Article 4," accessed January 13, 2021
  4. ↑ THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION, "ARTICLE 4. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT," accessed December 14, 2021
  5. ↑ Office of the Governor, "Governor's Duties, Requirements & Powers," accessed January 13, 2021
  6. ↑ Office of the Governor, "Governor's Office Organization," accessed August 2, 2014
  7. ↑ Office of the Governor, "Appointment Responsibility," accessed August 2, 2014
  8. ↑ Office of the Governor, "Budget, Planning and Policy," accessed August 2, 2014
  9. ↑ Office of the Governor, "Child Sex Trafficking Team," accessed January 13, 2021
  10. ↑ Office of the Governor, "Commission for Women," accessed August 2, 2014
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Office of the Governor, "Committee on People with Disabilities," accessed August 2, 2014
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Office of the Governor, "Criminal Justice Division," accessed August 2, 2014
  13. ↑ Office of the Governor, "Financial Services," accessed August 2, 2014
  14. ↑ Office of the Governor, "General Counsel," accessed August 2, 2014
  15. ↑ Office of the Governor, "Homeland Security," accessed August 2, 2014
  16. ↑ Office of the Governor, "Press Office," accessed August 2, 2014
  17. ↑ Office of the Governor, "Scheduling and Advance," accessed August 2, 2014
  18. ↑ Office of the Governor, "Texas Film Commission History," accessed August 2, 2014
  19. ↑ Office of the Governor, "Texas Music Commission," accessed August 2, 2014
  20. ↑ Office of the Governor, "The Texas Workforce System," accessed August 2, 2014
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
  22. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Separation of Powers: Executive Veto Powers," accessed January 26, 2024
  23. ↑ Texas Legislature, "H.B. No. 1 General Appropriations Act," accessed December 6, 2023
  24. ↑ Texas State Historical Association, "SALARIES OF STATE EXECUTIVE OFFICERS," accessed January 13, 2021
  25. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
  26. ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
  27. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 13, 2021
  28. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 13, 2021
  29. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 13, 2021
  30. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 13, 2021
  31. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
  32. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
  33. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 8, 2014
  34. ↑ Council of State Governments, "CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries," June 25, 2013
  35. ↑ The Council of State Governments, "The Book of States 2010 Table 4.3," accessed April 11, 2011
  36. ↑ Texas State Library and Archives Commission, "Chronological List of Texas Governors," January 13, 2021
  37. ↑ The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
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