To help readers learn more about the candidates running for statewide seats, The Texas Tribune is sharing information about the Republican, Democratic and third-party candidates.

About the elected seat: The governor is the chief executive of the state, whose responsibilities include implementing state laws, laying out biennial budget recommendations for the Legislature and leading the state and its military forces during emergencies. The governor handpicks the leadership of major state agencies like the Department of Public Safety, overseeing state law enforcement, and the Texas Education Agency, in charge of public schools.

The governor has the power to veto bills passed by the Legislature and to issue executive orders and disaster declarations to unlock money and resources. The governor also has the sole authority to call special legislative sessions and to set the agenda for those overtime legislating periods, as Gov. Greg Abbott did twice in 2025 to pursue mid-decade redistricting, flood response bills and other priorities.

If an elected official, a judge or a justice resigns or dies, the governor is responsible for calling a special election or filling that vacancy. The governor can also make appointments to hundreds of government entities.

What’s at stake: The person elected to this position will lead Texas, the world’s 8th largest economy and currently the largest state led by Republicans, and serve as the state’s primary liaison to the federal government. The governor has enormous power to direct the state legislative agenda, the budget and emergency responses. Through executive orders, he also has the power to shape the agendas and policies of state entities, including regulators and public universities.

The governor also commands influence through appointments. The governor is empowered to nominate or appoint their preferred candidates to powerful positions throughout the state bureaucracy, including the secretary of state, who oversees elections; the commissioner of public education; the commissioner of higher education; members of the Public Utility Commission, which regulates the state’s power grid and other utilities; and the boards of regents for four-year public universities. This means that the power and influence of a Texas governor can grow the longer they’re in office. For example, Abbott, who’s been governor for more than a decade, has appointed every single regent for every university board in Texas, giving him incredible sway over higher education policy.

Greg Abbott, Republican (incumbent)

Campaign finance:

Cash on hand as of Sept. 24: $18.2 million

Raised between Jan.1-Sept. 24: $48.6 million

Major donors this year:

Javaid Anwar, Midland oil executive – $2.3 million

Alex Fairly, Amarillo businessman – $2.5 million

Joe Gebbia, Airbnb cofounder – $1.5 million

Jeff Yass, Pennsylvania billionaire and school voucher advocate – $1 million

Ed Roski Jr., California businessman – $1 million

Ross Perot Jr., Dallas businessman – $798,000

Elon Musk, Space X and Tesla Motors CEO – $500,000

Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys – $500,000

Mackenzie Price, co-founder of Alpha School – $500,000

Kelcy Warren, East Texas native, executive at Energy Transfer Partners and University of Texas regent – $500,000

Experience:

8th governor of Texas, first elected in 2014 and now serving his third term

Previously, Abbott was the longest-serving attorney general in state history. He also served on the Supreme Court of Texas and as a state district judge in Harris County.

Political ideology:

Earlier in his tenure, Abbott was more aligned with the party’s pro-business establishment wing. As the Republican Party has moved right, Abbott has embraced more hardline, socially conservative causes and transformed into a partisan warrior closely aligned with President Donald Trump. Recent legislative election cycles have been characterized by Abbott’s willingness to draw from his deep campaign coffers to support his preferred candidates and to oust Republican incumbents who disagreed in particular with his signature policy issue, school vouchers.

Policy stances:

Paused new data center connections to the state grid until an audit is completed after previously calling Texas the “epicenter” for artificial intelligence development. Supports tighter restrictions on data center development, including ending data center tax breaks.

Ordered state agencies to pause funding for Flock surveillance cameras after a Texas Tribune investigation found a state agency had devoted at least $30 million to building up the state’s Flock surveillance network by providing grants to local police departments.

Ordered state agencies to create stricter regulations on THC products, which culminated with the state health agency’s ban of smokeable hemp.

Called for more education changes, including banning the use of H-1B visa workers in public schools, limiting screen time in classrooms and punishing Texas teachers who have inappropriate relationships with students with 10 years in prison.

Reducing property taxes, with proposals including abolishing school property taxes for homeowners (the primary source of funding for Texas public schools); requiring two-thirds voter approval for any property tax increases; and lowering the appraisal cap from 10% to 3%.

Securing the southern border, including through Operation Lone Star, an $11 billion program to install razor wire and buoys, seize trafficked drugs and arrest and deport unauthorized migrants. It also initiated a state funded border wall, which has since ended as federal wall construction restarted.

Stricter bail laws, including a constitutional amendment requiring judges to deny bail to some defendants accused of certain violent offenses.

Private school vouchers, to which the Legislature dedicated $1 billion for two years.

Endorsements:

President Donald Trump

National Border Patrol Council

Texas Municipal Police Association, Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, Association of Texas EMS Professionals

How to contact:

Info@GregAbbott.com

Texans for Greg Abbott

P.O. Box 308

Austin, TX 78767

Gina Hinojosa, Democrat

Campaign finance:

Cash on hand as of Sept. 24: $4 million

Raised between Jan. 1-Sept. 24: $20.4 million

Major donors this year:

American Federation of Teachers – $250,000

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker – $200,000

Susan Sarofim, Houston businesswoman and widow of billionaire investment manager Fayez Sarofim – $200,000

Karla Jurvetson, California physician and Democratic megadonor – $103,000

James Talarico state campaign account – $100,000

National Democratic Redistricting Committee – $100,000

In This Together PAC, a group associated with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear – $25,000

United Food and Commercial Workers Active Ballot Club General Fund – $155,000

James Talarico state campaign account – $100,000

Texas American Federation of Teachers’ political fund – $75,000

Edward Allen III, co-founder of Eagle Global Advisors – $100,000

Domingo Garcia, attorney at law offices of Domingo Garcia – $50,000

Experience:

Serving her fifth term in the Texas House of Representatives

Previously served as president and an at-large member of the Austin Independent School District Board

Civil rights and union lawyer at the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; Kator, Parks & Weiser in Austin; Catholic Charities, Office of Immigrant Concerns; Texas...

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