Greg Abbott, candidate for Texas governor
Name: Greg Abbott
Age: 68
Party: Republican
Occupation: Texas governor
Relevant Experience
I have the honor of serving as your 48th Governor of Texas. Before that, I was the 50th Attorney General of Texas, and prior to that a Justice on the Supreme Court of Texas.
Personal
I’m a native Texan. I was born in Wichita Falls, raised in Duncanville, and graduated from UT in Austin. I met my wife, Cecilia, the first Hispanic Texas First Lady while at UT. We were married in San Antonio in 1981. After I completed law school we moved to Houston. And that is where my life took a drastic turn. While out for a jog with a friend, I was paralyzed by a tree falling on me. People always ask how slow was I jogging?! My faith and family guided me through that time. I also adopted the guiding belief that people are defined not by their challenges, but by how they respond to them. Cecilia, a former teacher and principal, and I have been married for over 45 years. We have one daughter, Audrey, who is the light of our lives.
What is your position on data centers?
I have issued the most comprehensive standards for data centers of any governor in America. My guardrails on data centers put Texans first. I have directed the Public Utilities Commission and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to audit data centers. Any projects that fail the audit will be denied connection to the Texas grid. I also directed the Texas Water Development Board to enforce water-use reporting laws and impose legal consequences for violations. Additionally, I directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to halt permits sought by data centers until ERCOT’s audit is complete. My guardrails are clear: data centers must pay for their own electric infrastructure, add power to our grid, lower the costs for ratepayers, protect and reuse water, and not disturb neighborhoods. Next session, I will work with the Legislature to eliminate outdated financial incentives for data centers.
What are you doing to create more jobs in Far West Texas?
By continuing to expand career-training education statewide, we can ensure students can get a high-paying job out of high school so Texas can retain and attract the best and brightest. I plan to make higher education more affordable by creating a summer savings program and requiring universities to provide a 3-year bachelor’s degree. Both will allow students to earn their degrees at a lower cost. I have also created the most business-friendly climate in America, leading to job growth that far outpaces the national average. In Texas, people who want a job can have a job.
What’s your next solution for funding schools?
As governor, I’ve provided more funding for public education than any governor in Texas history. This past session, Texas added $8 billion in new public education funding, including $4 billion in teacher pay raises, providing for a historic all time high $90 billion in education funding for the current biennium. Next session, I will work with the Legislature to continue to fully fund our public schools.
Do you think the school voucher program financing should be doubled?
Texas should maintain its commitment to ensure parents are the final decision makers for their children. No family should be denied the opportunity to put their child in the education setting where they learn best. There is massive demand for Education Savings Accounts. This past allotment was awarded to more than 122,000 children, nearly 25% had a qualifying disability and 80% are in a family with a household income below $66,000 for a family of four.
What makes you the best candidate?
I have proven that I will fight for all Texans. My affordability agenda directly addresses the issues most important to Texans. My property tax plan alone will slash the average Texan’s property tax bill by 50%, or over $3,000 per year. I have also put forth meaningful proposals that lower healthcare, insurance, energy, housing costs, and makes college more affordable. The Democrats only offer empty promises, promote causes that harm Texas families, and want to increase our taxes to fund their socialist agenda. They want to allow men in our daughters' locker rooms, impose a state income tax, and allow dangerous, violent criminals out on little to no bail to roam our communities and inflict more harm.
