| − | '''Gregory Wayne "Greg" Abbott''' (born November 13, 1957<ref name="Directory"/>) is the [[conservative]], [[pro-life]] [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[governor]] of [[Texas]], a position which he has held since January 2015. Previously, he was an associate justice of the Texas Supreme Court from 1995 to 2001 and the [[attorney general]] of his state from 2002 to 2015. | + | '''Gregory Wayne "Greg" Abbott''' (born November 13, 1957<ref name="Directory"/>) is the increasingly moderate [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[governor]] of [[Texas]], a position which he has held since January 2015. Previously, he was an associate justice of the Texas Supreme Court from 1995 to 2001 and the [[attorney general]] of his state from 2002 to 2015. |
| − | A conservative, Abbott is largely under the influence of billionaire, corporate lobbyist donors to his campaign, in a state that has no campaign contribution limits. The [[Koch brothers]] network, to whom Abbott has made presentations and from whom he has received large contributions, induced Abbott to push as a top priority the [[Convention of States]] resolution in 2017 and to shy away from meaningful socially conservative legislation during his tenure. In 2019 the Texas legislature did not enact any significant conservative bills, and instead, Gov. Abbott pushed unsuccessfully for an increase in the sales tax and advocated for banning businesses from asking for the criminal histories of potential employees.<ref>Horowitz, Daniel (August 20, 2019). [https://www.conservativereview.com/news/needs-leftists-gop-texas-gov-greg-abbott-endorses-radical-ban-box-pro-criminal-mandate-employers/ Who needs leftists? GOP Texas Gov. Greg Abbott endorses radical “ban the box” pro-criminal mandate on employers]. ''Conservative Review''. Retrieved August 20, 2019.</ref>
| + | Formerly conservative, Abbott is largely under the influence of billionaire, corporate lobbyist donors to his campaign, in a state that has no campaign contribution limits. The [[Koch brothers]] network, to whom Abbott has made presentations and from whom he has received large contributions, induced Abbott to push as a top priority the [[Convention of States]] resolution in 2017 and to shy away from meaningful socially conservative legislation during his tenure. In 2019 the Texas legislature did not enact any significant conservative bills, and instead, Gov. Abbott pushed unsuccessfully for an increase in the sales tax and advocated for banning businesses from asking for the criminal histories of potential employees.<ref>Horowitz, Daniel (August 20, 2019). [https://www.conservativereview.com/news/needs-leftists-gop-texas-gov-greg-abbott-endorses-radical-ban-box-pro-criminal-mandate-employers/ Who needs leftists? GOP Texas Gov. Greg Abbott endorses radical “ban the box” pro-criminal mandate on employers]. ''Conservative Review''. Retrieved August 20, 2019.</ref> |
| | Abbott may give up his seat in 2022 in order to run for President. However, he may choose to run again (his office is not term limited), then run for President in 2024 and remain in office; should he win, he could then resign afterwards (as one of his predecessors, George W. Bush, did in 2000). | | Abbott may give up his seat in 2022 in order to run for President. However, he may choose to run again (his office is not term limited), then run for President in 2024 and remain in office; should he win, he could then resign afterwards (as one of his predecessors, George W. Bush, did in 2000). |