Figure timeline
Gregory Wayne Abbott is an American politician, attorney, and jurist who has served since 2015 as the 48th governor of Texas. A member of the Republican Party, he served from 2002 to 2015 as the 50th attorney general of Texas and from 1996 to 2001 as a justice of the Texas Supreme Court. As of 2025, Abbott is the longest-serving incumbent governor in the United States.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
politics · Governor of Texas since 2015 · lawyer · politician · judge · governor · jurist · also Greg Abbott, Gregory Wayne Abbott, Gregory W. Abbott, Abbott
Born 13 November 1957 · Q5605224
117 published statements · 0 followers
See & hear
11 photos · 1 audio
Listen
Greg Abbott on the reopening of Texas's economy following the COVID-19 pandemic
Media from Wikimedia Commons, hotlinked at the source under its own licence — see each file for author and terms.
Live now
Pulling headlines from trusted outlets — this usually takes a few seconds
Checking the wires…
Feed scan
These are live links, not archived citations — they only join the timeline once a collect run verifies and archives them.
Live pulse
Most recent outstanding titles, awards, and quotes
This shows how the Green New Deal would be a deadly deal for the United States of America ... Our wind and our solar got shut down, and they were collectively more than 10 percent of our power grid, and that thrust Texas into a situation where it was lacking power on a statewide basis... It just shows that fossil fuel is necessary.
We the people have to take the lead to restore the rule of law in the United States.
76%WikipediaSource
“This shows how the Green New Deal would be a deadly deal for the United States of America ... Our wind and our solar got shut down, and they were collectively more than 10 percent of our power grid, and that thrust Texas into a situation where it was lacking power on a statewide basis... It just shows that fossil fuel is necessary.”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“We the people have to take the lead to restore the rule of law in the United States.”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“level the playing field for all students [and] target schools which don”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos: Texas Governor Greg Abbott & the Backlash over AI Data Centers as the Midterms Approach, Sunday on “This Week” with Co-anchor Jonathan Karl - ABC News
El Comercio Perú: Abbott pone bajo revisión el uso de fondos educativos: qué distritos escolares de Texas serían investigados
The Lufkin Daily News: FILE PHOTO: Texas Governor Greg Abbott in Austin
San Antonio Express-News: Greg Abbott asks DOJ to investigate Muslim accommodations at IAH, DFW airports - San Antonio Express-News
The Dallas Morning News: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott asks DOJ to investigate wash stations at DFW Airport, IAH
Dallas News: Greg Abbott should stop playing games, sign extradition warrant
Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Texas Governor Abbott says no border wall will be built in Big Bend National Park - Fort Worth Star-Telegram
KHOU: Gina Hinojosa says Texas voters are ready for change. Can she upset Governor Greg Abbott?
Published video “Governor Abbott: We want Texans teaching Texans.”.
Democracy Now!: Minesota demanda al gobernador de Texas, Greg Abbott, para obligarlo a autorizar la extradición de un agente de inmigración acusado de delitos graves de agresión
Telemundo McAllen: El gobernador Greg Abbott reconoce el éxito académico de PSJA ISD
The Washington Post: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott takes aim at Muslim washing stations in airports
The Lufkin Daily News: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a candidate for re-election in 2026, arrives at a private residence in Northeast El Paso, Texas, before a roundtable discussion with constituents on education on Aug. 19, 2026.
The Lufkin Daily News: Gov. Greg Abbott, who is seeking re-election to a fourth term as Texas governor, speaks to attendees of a roundtable discussion about education moments before departing from the Northeast El Paso home of Ines Vasquez on Aug. 19, 2026.
Hora Cero Web: Greg Abbott buscará eliminar visas H-1B en escuelas públicas
Dallas Observer: Greg Abbott adds DFW Airport to list of local targets
La Nación: Gina Hinojosa: “Ningún gobernador en la historia de Texas ha alejado a más maestros del aula que Greg Abbott”
Houston Chronicle: Greg Abbott’s data center audit won’t be done before the election
WFAA: Gov. Greg Abbott mulls ban on hiring teachers from abroad
Houston Chronicle: Greg Abbott's ads are everywhere. How Gina Hinojosa is planning to fight back
LGBTQ Nation: Greg Abbott mocks women & trans athletes by joking about NBA players joining the WNBA
El Comercio Perú: Abbott propone prohibir visas H-1B en escuelas públicas de Texas: a quiénes afectaría y qué impacto tendría
Law Commentary: Minnesota Sues Greg Abbott to Force Extradition of ICE Agent Charged in Minneapolis Shooting
FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth: Gov. Abbott wants to end H-1B visas in Texas classrooms - FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth
voz.us: Fewer bureaucrats and more funding for students: Greg Abbott sets a strict cap on administrative spending in Texas schools
Published video “Governor Abbott to Announce New Initiative to Make Schools More Efficient”.
Published video “Gov. Abbott Announces Foreign Influence Ban in Texas Public Schools”.
Published video “Governor Abbott to Announce New Education Initiative with Texas Parents and Educators”.
Published video “Governor Abbott on AI Data Centers and Islamic Washing Stations in Texas Airports”.
Published video “Governor Abbott to Announce New Initiative to Strengthen Student Learning”.
Published video “Governor Abbott to Unveil Student Safety Initiative in Lubbock”.
Published video “What's At Stake”.
Published video “Governor Abbott Announces New Initiatives to Keep Texas Affordable in Socorro”.
Public attention spiked: 7,035 Wikipedia readers in one day, 4.3× the usual 1,651, with 0 article edits.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Campaign: 2026 election.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Abbott announced his candidacy for reelection to a fourth term
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Claimed: “"There are no states more gerrymandered than California and Illinois and New York."” — rated Partly false by FactCheck.org.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
Snopes rated the claim “A video shared in mid-July 2025 authentically showed Texas Gov. Greg Abbott saying, "I support ICE deporting the Mexicans who helped during the floods. They didn't have authorization, I've confirmed it."” Fake.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
Lead Stories rated the claim “ICE arrested Mexican nationals who helped flood recovery efforts, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said "I support ICE deporting the Mexicans who helped during the floods"” Fake Audio.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
Snopes rated the claim “In early July 2025, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said: "If God himself came into Texas illegally, he'd be deported."” Incorrect Attribution.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
Gave participating families around $10,000 to cover tuition fees and other school-related expenses
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Snopes rated the claim “A statement issued by the office of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, marked the Dec. 29, 2024, death of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and mistakenly extended condolences to former first lady Rosalynn Carter, who died in 2023.” True.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
AFP Fact Check rated the claim “An image shows Greg Abbott on the cover of "Israel Monthly"” False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
USA Today rated the claim “Greg Abbott said Biden should learn from Putin and focus on domestic issues” False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
AFP Fact Check rated the claim “Greg Abbott said Joe Biden needs to learn from Vladimir Putin” False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
Abbott joined five other Republican governors (Kay Ivey, Brian Kemp, Tate Reeves, Henry McMaster, and Bill Lee) in a statement opposing the United Auto Workers unionization campaign
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
After he was convicted of murdering Air Force veteran Garrett Foster during a Black Lives Matter protest
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Abbott signed into law Senate Bill 17, which prohibits Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) offices at Texas's public colleges and universities
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Abbott said he would work swiftly for a pardon after a jury convicted Perry of murder
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Abbott sent two buses with 101 mostly Venezuelan migrants detained after crossing the U
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Snopes rated the claim “In 2015, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott urged Texans to "pick up the pace" in purchasing new guns.” Correct Attribution.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
Abbott said that an 18-year-old carrying a handgun and possibly a rifle (later identified as a Daniel Defense DDM4, an AR-15 style rifle) killed 19 students and 2 teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Approached the stage and said, "The time to stop the next shooting is right now and you are doing nothing
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Campaign: 2022 election.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Claimed: “The Texas abortion law “provides at least six weeks for a person to be able to get an abortion.”” — rated False by PolitiFact.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
Abbott's office announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
During an again worsening pandemic, he issued a superseding executive order (GA-38) that reinstated earlier orders and imposed additional prohibitions on local governmental officials, state agencies, public universities,
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Abbott issued an executive order banning mask mandates in public schools and governmental entities, with a fine of up to $1,000 for failing to comply
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Abbott signed the Texas Heartbeat Act, a six-week abortion ban, into law
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Abbott lifted all COVID-19 restrictions in Texas, which included ending a mask mandate and allowing businesses to reopen "100 percent"
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The Biden Administration is recklessly releasing hundreds of illegal immigrants who have COVID into Texas communities.”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Abbott spearheaded legislative efforts to fine cities that reduced spending on police
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Abbott vetoed a bipartisan criminal justice bill that would have made people convicted of certain crimes before they were 18 eligible for early parole and created panels to consider inmates' age and mental health at the
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Signed into law a bill that allowed Texans to carry guns without a license
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Abbott said that illegal immigrants were invading homes
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
A Republican primary challenger criticized Abbott because Texas's child welfare agency included content regarding LGBTQ youths
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“in good health and experiencing no symptoms”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Trump endorsed Abbott for reelection, choosing him over several Republican primary rivals who also positioned themselves as pro-Trump
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Snopes rated the claim “The obituary for David W. Nagy blamed his death on U.S. President Trump, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, and "other politicians who did not take this pandemic seriously."” True.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
“not necessary in the state of Texas”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Claimed: “Says Winston Churchill said, "The fascists of the future will call themselves anti-fascists."” — rated False by PolitiFact.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
Former CIA and NSA director Michael Hayden said Russian intelligence organizations had propagated the conspiracy theory and that Abbott's response convinced them of the power such a misinformation campaign could have in
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Campaign: 2018 election.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
And in 2022, and is running for an unprecedented fourth term in 2026
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Abbott signed a bill into law banning dismemberment and partial-birth abortions and requiring either burial or cremation of the aborted
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Abbott called for a special legislative session in order to pass several of his legislative priorities, an agenda supported by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
A federal judge ruled against the law, but the State of Texas vowed to appeal the ruling
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Abbott signed legislation to allow taxpayer-funded adoption agencies to refuse same-sex families from adopting children for religious reasons
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Abbott signed into law a bill lowering handgun carry license fees
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Abbott called for a national constitutional convention to address what he saw as abuses by justices of the United States Supreme Court in "abandoning the Constitution"
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Supported Scott Pruitt's appointment as head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), saying, "He and I teamed up on many lawsuits against the EPA
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Allowing licensed open carry of a handgun in public areas and private businesses unless they display a "30
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Abbott spoke to the Texas Public Policy Foundation, calling for a Convention of States to amend the U
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Abbott urged the Texas Supreme Court to limit the impact of the U
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Barring THHSC from implementing therapy rate cuts
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Career landmark: Governor of Texas (2015).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Abbott signed the campus carry (SB 11) and the open carry (HB 910) bills into law
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“to keep more of what you earn and use some of that extra money to buy more ammo”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Abbott defended Texas's ban on same-sex marriage, which a federal court ruled unconstitutional
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Argued in court that Texas should be allowed to prohibit same-sex marriage because LGBT individuals cannot procreate
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Abbott is the first Texas governor and third governor of a U
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Campaign: 2014 election.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Criticized legislation enacted by New York State strengthening its gun regulation laws by expanding an assault weapons ban and creating a high-capacity magazine ban; he also said he would sue if Congress enacted a new
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“I go into the office in the morning, I sue Barack Obama, and then I go home.”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Campaign: 2010 election.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Campaign: 2006 election.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Abbott added new allegations to his lawsuit against Sony-BMG
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Abbott supported the Texas Legislature's move to cap non-economic damages for medical malpractice cases at $250,000, with no built-in increases for rising cost of living
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Following Cornyn's election to the Senate
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Campaign: 2002 election.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
And reelected with 60% in 2006 and 64% in 2010
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Career landmark: Texas Attorney General (2002–2015).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
After resigning from the Supreme Court, Abbott returned to private practice and worked for Bracewell & Giuliani LLC
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Abbott defeated Democrat David Van Os, 60% to 40%
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Why do we audit everything in this world, but people raised their hands in concern when we audit elections, which is fundamental to our democracy?”
(for a two-year term) and in 1998 (six-year term)
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Abbott had no Democratic opponent but was challenged by Libertarian John B
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Earned his Juris Doctor degree from the Vanderbilt University Law School
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
And from Vanderbilt University with a Juris Doctor in 1984
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Abbott earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance from the University of Texas at Austin, where he was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity and the Young Republicans Club
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
In Wichita Falls, Texas, and is of English descent
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Born 1957-11-13.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The Ten Commandments are a historically recognized system of law.”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Connections