When compared to those of other states, the governorship of Texas has been described as one of relative weakness.[2][3] In some respects, it is the lieutenant governor of Texas, who presides over the Texas Senate, who possesses greater influence to exercise their prerogatives.[2][3]
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+1⁄2 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, 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 re-elected in 2018 and again in 2022. He is the second longest-serving governor and on track to serve 12 years by January 19, 2027.
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.[5] The 1861 constitution, following secession from the Union, established the first Monday of November following election as the term's start.[6] 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."[7] The constitution of 1869, enacted during Reconstruction, removed term limitations,[8] to this day making Texas one of sixteen states, territory or jurisdiction (including the U.S. Territory Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia[9] with no limit on gubernatorial terms. The present constitution of 1876 returned terms to two years,[10] but a 1972 amendment again returned them to four.[11]
In the case of a vacancy in the office, the lieutenant governor becomes governor.[12] Prior to a 1999 amendment, the lieutenant governor only acted as governor until the expiration of the term to which he succeeded.[13][14] The governor and the lieutenant governor are not officially elected on the same ticket.
↑ Under the 1845 constitution, governors were ineligible to serve more than four years in any term of six years.[31]
↑ Houston refused to take the oath of allegiance to the Confederate States of America, so the secession convention declared the office vacant.[35]
↑ Murrah fled for Mexico around June 11, during the collapse of the Confederacy, dying there two months later.[44] Some sources list Lieutenant Governor Fletcher Stockdale as succeeding him and serving from June 11, to either June 16, when Andrew Jackson Hamilton was appointed military governor,[47][48] or July 25, when Hamilton arrived in Austin.[49] However, some historians disagree on if the office formally transferred to Stockdale,[50] and he is noted in the 2004-2005 Texas Almanac as only "having performed some duties of office."[51]
↑ Throckmorton was removed from office by General Charles Griffin for being an "impediment to reconstruction," and Pease was installed in his place.[55]
↑ Ferguson was impeachment and convicted for mismanagement of funds.[95] Modern sources say he resigned before the trial was complete, but contemporary news shows he still maintained his office and refused to resign.[98]
↑ Hobby became acting governor upon Ferguson's impeachment on August 24;[101] Ferguson was convicted and removed on September 22.[102]
↑ Abbott's third term began on January 17, 2023, and will expire January 19, 2027.
Related Research Articles
The governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the chief executive officer of the government of Massachusetts. The governor is the head of the state cabinet and the commander-in-chief of the commonwealth's military forces.
The governor of Colorado is the head of government of the U.S. state of Colorado. The governor is the head of the executive branch of Colorado's state government and is charged with enforcing state laws. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Colorado General Assembly, to convene the legislature, and to grant pardons, except in cases of treason or impeachment. The governor is also the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.
1 2 Ivins, Molly; Lou Dubose (2000). Shrub: The Short But Happy Political Life of George W. Bush. New York: Vintage Books. pp.xii–xiii. ISBN0-375-75714-7.
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