Changes

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, Governor 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, Governor 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 was a runaway winner for a third term in the primary election held on March 1, 2022. He defeated two strong conservatives, former Florida U.S. Representative [[Allen West]] and the former state Senator [[Don Huffines]] of [[Dallas]].

Abbott was a runaway winner for a third term in the Republicnprimary election held on March 1, 2022. He defeated two strong conservatives, former Florida U.S. Representative [[Allen West]] and the former state Senator [[Don Huffines]] of [[Dallas]]. In the general election on November 8, Abbott will face off against the Democrat former U.S. Representative [[Beto O'Rourke]], who ran a strong but losing race in 2018 against Republican U.S. Senator [[Ted Cruz]]. Though he uses the [[Spanish]] nickname "Beto," O'Rourke is of [[Ireland|Irish]] descent.

==Early life==

==Background==

Abbott was born in [[Wichita Falls]], Texas, on November 13, 1957, and was reared in Longview, Texas<ref name="Directory"/> before graduating high school in [[Duncanville, Texas]].  He earned an undergraduate degree in finance from UT-Austin and a law degree at [[Vanderbilt University]].<ref name="Directory"/>

Abbott was born in [[Wichita Falls]], Texas, on November 13, 1957, and was reared in Longview, Texas<ref name="Directory"/> before graduating high school in [[Duncanville, Texas]].  He earned an undergraduate degree in finance from UT-Austin and a law degree at [[Vanderbilt University]].<ref name="Directory"/>

Abbott served from 1993 to 1995 as a trial judge on the 129th District Court.<ref name="Directory"/> In 1995, Texas governor [[George W. Bush]] appointed him to the Texas Supreme Court, and Abbott would remain a member of the court until he resigned in 2001.<ref name="Directory"/>

Abbott served from 1993 to 1995 as a trial judge on the 129th District Court.<ref name="Directory"/> In 1995, Texas governor [[George W. Bush]] appointed him to the Texas Supreme Court, and Abbott would remain a member of the court until he resigned in 2001.<ref name="Directory"/>

In the Republican primary held on March 6, 2018, Abbott polled 1,392,294 votes (90.4 percent) over two minor intra-party rivals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/mar06_325_state.htm?x=0&y=1394&id=142|title=Election Returns|date=March 6, 2018|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref>

In the Republican primary held on March 6, 2018, Abbott polled 1,392,294 votes (90.4 percent) over two minor intra-party rivals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/mar06_325_state.htm?x=0&y=1394&id=142|title=Election Returns|date=March 6, 2018|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref>

In the November 6 general election, Abbott will face one of two Democrats, the [[liberal]] [[Lupe Valdez]], the former sheriff of Dallas County and an open lesbian, and Andrew White, son of the late former Governor [[Mark White]]. Valdez led White in the primary, 43 to 27. Abbott outpolled Valdez by nearly 956,000 votes in their respective party primaries.

In the November 6 general election, Abbott defeated the [[liberal]] [[Lupe Valdez]], the former sheriff of Dallas County and an open lesbian, Abbott outpolled Valdez by nearly 956,000 votes in their respective party primaries.

===Tenure===

===Gubernatorial tenure===

Abbott took office on January 20, 2015.<ref name="Echoes">Fernandez, Manny (January 20, 2015). [https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/21/us/politics/new-texas-governor-greg-abbott-expected-to-continue-on-perrys-path.html Texas’ New Governor Echoes the Plans of Perry]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved October 1, 2016.</ref> Abbott called a special session in 2017, ordering the legislature to focus on conservative priorities.<ref>Price, Bob (June 6, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/texas/2017/06/06/texas-governor-calls-legislative-special-session-bathroom-bill-others/ Texas Governor Calls for Legislative Special Session for ‘Bathroom Bill’, Others]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved June 7, 2017.</ref> Despite Abbott's conservative views, some conservative commentators voiced their concerns that Texas bureaucrats were increasing Texas regulations and making it more like California.<ref>[https://www.breitbart.com/texas/2017/06/28/lennon-texas-bureaucrats-becoming-regulation-friendly-obama/ LENNON: Texas Bureaucrats Are Becoming More Regulation-friendly Than Obama]. ''Breitbart News''. June 28, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2017.</ref> However, the Trump Administration nominated several conservative judges who once were employees of Abbott,<ref>Platoff, Emma (April 3, 2018). [https://www.texastribune.org/2018/04/03/greg-abbott-andrew-oldham-fifth-circuit-judicial-appointees/ "A friendly vote on the court": How Greg Abbott's former employees could help Texas from the federal bench]. ''The Texas Tribune''. Retrieved May 17, 2018.</ref> and Abbott appointed several conservatives to the courts himself.<ref>Vertuno, Jim (March 7, 2019). [https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/texas/article/Texas-governor-fills-courts-with-GOP-judges-13670767.php Texas governor fills courts with GOP judges voters rejected]. ''Houston Chronicle'' (from the ''Associated Press''). Retrieved March 8, 2019.</ref>

Abbott took office as govenor on January 20, 2015.<ref name="Echoes">Fernandez, Manny (January 20, 2015). [https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/21/us/politics/new-texas-governor-greg-abbott-expected-to-continue-on-perrys-path.html Texas’ New Governor Echoes the Plans of Perry]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved October 1, 2016.</ref> Abbott called a special session in 2017, ordering the legislature to focus on conservative priorities.<ref>Price, Bob (June 6, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/texas/2017/06/06/texas-governor-calls-legislative-special-session-bathroom-bill-others/ Texas Governor Calls for Legislative Special Session for ‘Bathroom Bill’, Others]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved June 7, 2017.</ref> Despite Abbott's conservative views, some conservative commentators voiced their concerns that Texas bureaucrats were increasing Texas regulations and making it more like California.<ref>[https://www.breitbart.com/texas/2017/06/28/lennon-texas-bureaucrats-becoming-regulation-friendly-obama/ LENNON: Texas Bureaucrats Are Becoming More Regulation-friendly Than Obama]. ''Breitbart News''. June 28, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2017.</ref> However, the Trump Administration nominated several conservative judges who once were employees of Abbott,<ref>Platoff, Emma (April 3, 2018). [https://www.texastribune.org/2018/04/03/greg-abbott-andrew-oldham-fifth-circuit-judicial-appointees/ "A friendly vote on the court": How Greg Abbott's former employees could help Texas from the federal bench]. ''The Texas Tribune''. Retrieved May 17, 2018.</ref> and Abbott appointed several conservatives to the courts himself.<ref>Vertuno, Jim (March 7, 2019). [https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/texas/article/Texas-governor-fills-courts-with-GOP-judges-13670767.php Texas governor fills courts with GOP judges voters rejected]. ''Houston Chronicle'' (from the ''Associated Press''). Retrieved March 8, 2019.</ref>

====Abortion====

====Abortion====