HOUSTON – Texas Governor Greg Abbott is officially running for a historic fourth term, announcing his reelection bid during a rally in Houston’s Fifth Ward.
Abbott told supporters it felt like a “homecoming” to launch his campaign in Houston the city where his wife, Cecilia, was born and where he first ran for public office.
“We won Harris County then, and we are going to win Harris County again this election,” Abbott said to cheers.
The governor used the campaign kickoff to highlight what he called Texas’ “record-breaking growth” under his leadership, while pledging to continue efforts to lower costs for Texas families: focusing on childcare, healthcare, housing, and especially property taxes.
Property Taxes Take Center Stage
Abbott made property tax reform one of the central themes of his speech, promising to give Texans more control over how much they pay.
He praised voters for recently approving seven constitutional amendments aimed at reducing property taxes statewide, noting that “more than half of all seniors in Texas will pay zero dollars on their school district property taxes.”
But Abbott said more work remains to “drive a stake through the heart of local property tax hikes.” He called for several sweeping changes, including:
- Requiring two-thirds voter approval for any local property tax increase.
- Allowing voters to “roll back” tax rates.
- Limiting property appraisals to once every five years and cutting the appraisal cap from 10% to 3%.
- Allowing Texans to vote on a constitutional amendment to abolish school property taxes entirely.
“The state of Texas doesn’t impose property taxes, local governments do,” Abbott said. “It’s time to turn the tables and put the power back with the people.”
Lowering Costs for Families
Abbott also outlined efforts to lower the overall cost of living in Texas. He said his administration has cut “hundreds of unnecessary regulations” to make childcare more affordable and capped the cost of insulin while investing billions in mental health and rural healthcare.
On housing, Abbott said Texas ranks first in the nation for new home construction a factor he says will help “drive down housing costs” statewide. “We made it easier and cheaper to build more homes and apartments,” he said.
Education and School Choice
Education was another key theme in Abbott’s address. He touted the expansion of school choice in Texas, saying the state’s new program empowers parents “to choose the education pathway that is best for their child.”
Abbott said the goal is not just more choice, but better results across the board. “Choice equals competition,” he said. “And competition will make all schools better public, private, charter, and homeschool.”
Border Security and Law Enforcement
Abbott reiterated his administration’s hardline stance on border security, calling Texas “the only state in American history to build our own border wall.” He said the state has deployed thousands of National Guard members and DPS troopers to the border, leading to “an 85% decline in illegal immigration” and a “40% decrease in fentanyl deaths.”
He also defended state laws aimed at preventing cities from defunding police and keeping violent offenders behind bars.
Throughout his speech, Abbott drew contrasts between Texas and states with Democratic governors, warning that Democrats are hoping to flip the state in 2026.
“All it takes is one election,” Abbott said. “Government can crush your economy, destroy your jobs, and increase your taxes. Democrats want that election to be this election.”
He closed his remarks with a rallying cry: “This is Texas. You cannot buy us. You cannot beat us. We will see you at the ballot box and we will win. Let’s keep Texas, Texas. Let’s roll.”
Several Democrats have already announced plans to run for governor, and more are expected before the December 2026 filing deadline. Abbott, who has served as governor since 2015, is seeking to become one of the longest-serving governors in Texas history.