# List of governors of Texas

The governor of Texas is the chief executive officer of the U.S. state of Texas and the commander in chief of the state’s military forces. The incumbent, Greg Abbott, is the forty-eighth governor to serve in the office since Texas' statehood in 1845.
When compared to those of other states, the governorship of Texas has been described as one of relative weakness. In some respects, it is the lieutenant governor of Texas, who presides over the Texas Senate, who possesses greater influence to exercise their prerogatives.
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. He is currently seeking re-election to an unprecedented fourth term in 2026, which if completed, by January 21, 2031, will make him the state's longest-serving governor, surpassing Perry's 14 years.

## Governors

Texas was annexed by the United States and admitted to the Union on December 29, 1845.
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. The 1861 constitution, following secession from the Union, established the first Monday of November following election as the term's start. 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." The constitution of 1869, enacted during Reconstruction, removed term limitations, to this day making Texas one of sixteen states, territory or jurisdiction (including the U.S. Territory Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia with no limit on gubernatorial terms. The present constitution of 1876 returned terms to two years, but a 1972 amendment again returned them to four.
In the case of a vacancy in the office, the lieutenant governor becomes governor. Prior to a 1999 amendment, the lieutenant governor only acted as governor until the expiration of the term to which he succeeded. The governor and the lieutenant governor are not officially elected on the same ticket.
Governors of the State of Texas :
| No. | Governor | Governor | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor | Lt. Governor |
| 1 | | | J. Pinckney Henderson (1808–1858) | February 19, 1846 – December 21, 1847 (did not run) | Democratic | 1845 | | Albert Clinton Horton |
| 2 | | | George Tyler Wood (1795–1858) | December 21, 1847 – December 21, 1849 (lost election) | Democratic | 1847 | | John Alexander Greer |
| 3 | | | Peter Hansborough Bell (1810–1898) | December 21, 1849 – November 23, 1853 (resigned) | Democratic | 1849 | | John Alexander Greer |
| 3 | | | Peter Hansborough Bell (1810–1898) | December 21, 1849 – November 23, 1853 (resigned) | Democratic | 1851 | | James W. Henderson |
| 4 | | | James W. Henderson (1817–1880) | November 23, 1853 – December 21, 1853 (successor took office) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 5 | | | Elisha M. Pease (1812–1883) | December 21, 1853 – December 21, 1857 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1853 | | David Catchings Dickson |
| 5 | | | Elisha M. Pease (1812–1883) | December 21, 1853 – December 21, 1857 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1855 | | Hardin Richard Runnels |
| 6 | | | Hardin Richard Runnels (1820–1873) | December 21, 1857 – December 21, 1859 (lost election) | Democratic | 1857 | | Francis Lubbock |
| 7 | | | Sam Houston (1793–1863) | December 21, 1859 – March 16, 1861 (removed) | Independent | 1859 | | Edward Clark |
| 8 | | | Edward Clark (1815–1880) | March 16, 1861 – November 7, 1861 (lost election) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 9 | | | Francis Lubbock (1815–1905) | November 7, 1861 – November 5, 1863 (did not run) | Democratic | 1861 | | John McClannahan Crockett |
| 10 | | | Pendleton Murrah (d. 1865) | November 5, 1863 – June 17, 1865 (office vacated) | Democratic | 1863 | | Fletcher Stockdale |
| 11 | | | Andrew Jackson Hamilton (1815–1875) | June 17, 1865 – August 9, 1866 (successor took office) | Military governor appointed by President | Military governor appointed by President | Vacant | Vacant |
| 12 | | | James W. Throckmorton (1825–1894) | August 9, 1866 – July 30, 1867 (removed) | Democratic | 1866 | | George Washington Jones |
| 13 | | | Elisha M. Pease (1812–1883) | July 30, 1867 – September 30, 1869 (resigned) | Installed by military occupation | Installed by military occupation | Vacant | Vacant |
| — | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | September 30, 1869 – January 8, 1870 | Office vacated after resignation | Office vacated after resignation | | Vacant | Vacant |
| 14 | | | Edmund J. Davis (1827–1883) | January 8, 1870 – January 15, 1874 (lost election) | Republican | 1869 | Vacant | Vacant |
| 15 | | | Richard Coke (1829–1897) | January 15, 1874 – December 1, 1876 (resigned) | Democratic | 1873 | | Richard B. Hubbard |
| 15 | | | Richard Coke (1829–1897) | January 15, 1874 – December 1, 1876 (resigned) | Democratic | 1876 | | Richard B. Hubbard |
| 16 | | | Richard B. Hubbard (1832–1901) | December 1, 1876 – January 21, 1879 (did not run) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 17 | | | Oran Milo Roberts (1815–1898) | January 21, 1879 – January 16, 1883 (did not run) | Democratic | 1878 | | Joseph D. Sayers |
| 17 | | | Oran Milo Roberts (1815–1898) | January 21, 1879 – January 16, 1883 (did not run) | Democratic | 1880 | | Leonidas Jefferson Storey |
| 18 | | | John Ireland (1827–1896) | January 16, 1883 – January 18, 1887 (did not run) | Democratic | 1882 | | Francis Marion Martin |
| 18 | | | John Ireland (1827–1896) | January 16, 1883 – January 18, 1887 (did not run) | Democratic | 1884 | | Barnett Gibbs |
| 19 | | | Lawrence Sullivan Ross (1838–1898) | January 18, 1887 – January 20, 1891 (did not run) | Democratic | 1886 | | Thomas Benton Wheeler |
| 19 | | | Lawrence Sullivan Ross (1838–1898) | January 18, 1887 – January 20, 1891 (did not run) | Democratic | 1888 | | Thomas Benton Wheeler |
| 20 | | | Jim Hogg (1851–1906) | January 20, 1891 – January 15, 1895 (did not run) | Democratic | 1890 | | George C. Pendleton |
| 20 | | | Jim Hogg (1851–1906) | January 20, 1891 – January 15, 1895 (did not run) | Democratic | 1892 | | Martin McNulty Crane |
| 21 | | | Charles A. Culberson (1855–1925) | January 15, 1895 – January 17, 1899 (did not run) | Democratic | 1894 | | George Taylor Jester |
| 21 | | | Charles A. Culberson (1855–1925) | January 15, 1895 – January 17, 1899 (did not run) | Democratic | 1896 | | George Taylor Jester |
| 22 | | | Joseph D. Sayers (1841–1929) | January 17, 1899 – January 20, 1903 (did not run) | Democratic | 1898 | | James Browning |
| 22 | | | Joseph D. Sayers (1841–1929) | January 17, 1899 – January 20, 1903 (did not run) | Democratic | 1900 | | James Browning |
| 23 | | | S. W. T. Lanham (1846–1908) | January 20, 1903 – January 15, 1907 (did not run) | Democratic | 1902 | | George D. Neal |
| 23 | | | S. W. T. Lanham (1846–1908) | January 20, 1903 – January 15, 1907 (did not run) | Democratic | 1904 | | George D. Neal |
| 24 | | | Thomas Mitchell Campbell (1856–1923) | January 15, 1907 – January 17, 1911 (did not run) | Democratic | 1906 | | Asbury Bascom Davidson |
| 24 | | | Thomas Mitchell Campbell (1856–1923) | January 15, 1907 – January 17, 1911 (did not run) | Democratic | 1908 | | Asbury Bascom Davidson |
| 25 | | | Oscar Branch Colquitt (1861–1940) | January 17, 1911 – January 19, 1915 (did not run) | Democratic | 1910 | | Asbury Bascom Davidson |
| 25 | | | Oscar Branch Colquitt (1861–1940) | January 17, 1911 – January 19, 1915 (did not run) | Democratic | 1912 | | William Harding Mayes |
| 26 | | | James E. Ferguson (1871–1944) | January 19, 1915 – September 22, 1917 (impeached and removed) | Democratic | 1914 | | William P. Hobby |
| 26 | | | James E. Ferguson (1871–1944) | January 19, 1915 – September 22, 1917 (impeached and removed) | Democratic | 1916 | | William P. Hobby |
| 27 | | | William P. Hobby (1878–1964) | September 22, 1917 – January 18, 1921 (did not run) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 27 | | | William P. Hobby (1878–1964) | September 22, 1917 – January 18, 1921 (did not run) | Democratic | 1918 | | Willard Arnold Johnson |
| 28 | | | Pat Morris Neff (1871–1952) | January 18, 1921 – January 20, 1925 (did not run) | Democratic | 1920 | | Lynch Davidson |
| 28 | | | Pat Morris Neff (1871–1952) | January 18, 1921 – January 20, 1925 (did not run) | Democratic | 1922 | | Thomas Whitfield Davidson |
| 29 | | | Miriam A. Ferguson (1875–1961) | January 20, 1925 – January 18, 1927 (lost nomination) | Democratic | 1924 | | Barry Miller |
| 30 | | | Dan Moody (1893–1966) | January 18, 1927 – January 20, 1931 (did not run) | Democratic | 1926 | | Barry Miller |
| 30 | | | Dan Moody (1893–1966) | January 18, 1927 – January 20, 1931 (did not run) | Democratic | 1928 | | Barry Miller |
| 31 | | | Ross S. Sterling (1875–1949) | January 20, 1931 – January 17, 1933 (lost nomination) | Democratic | 1930 | | Edgar E. Witt |
| 32 | | | Miriam A. Ferguson (1875–1961) | January 17, 1933 – January 15, 1935 (did not run) | Democratic | 1932 | | Edgar E. Witt |
| 33 | | | James Burr V Allred (1899–1959) | January 15, 1935 – January 17, 1939 (did not run) | Democratic | 1934 | | Walter Frank Woodul |
| 33 | | | James Burr V Allred (1899–1959) | January 15, 1935 – January 17, 1939 (did not run) | Democratic | 1936 | | Walter Frank Woodul |
| 34 | | | W. Lee O'Daniel (1890–1969) | January 17, 1939 – August 4, 1941 (resigned) | Democratic | 1938 | | Coke R. Stevenson |
| 34 | | | W. Lee O'Daniel (1890–1969) | January 17, 1939 – August 4, 1941 (resigned) | Democratic | 1940 | | Coke R. Stevenson |
| 35 | | | Coke R. Stevenson (1888–1975) | August 4, 1941 – January 21, 1947 (did not run) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 35 | | | Coke R. Stevenson (1888–1975) | August 4, 1941 – January 21, 1947 (did not run) | Democratic | 1942 | | John Lee Smith |
| 35 | | | Coke R. Stevenson (1888–1975) | August 4, 1941 – January 21, 1947 (did not run) | Democratic | 1944 | | John Lee Smith |
| 36 | | | Beauford H. Jester (1893–1949) | January 21, 1947 – July 11, 1949 (died in office) | Democratic | 1946 | | Allan Shivers |
| 36 | | | Beauford H. Jester (1893–1949) | January 21, 1947 – July 11, 1949 (died in office) | Democratic | 1948 | | Allan Shivers |
| 37 | | | Allan Shivers (1907–1985) | July 11, 1949 – January 15, 1957 (did not run) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 37 | | | Allan Shivers (1907–1985) | July 11, 1949 – January 15, 1957 (did not run) | Democratic | 1950 | | Ben Ramsey |
| 37 | | | Allan Shivers (1907–1985) | July 11, 1949 – January 15, 1957 (did not run) | Democratic | 1952 | | Ben Ramsey |
| 37 | | | Allan Shivers (1907–1985) | July 11, 1949 – January 15, 1957 (did not run) | Democratic | 1954 | | Ben Ramsey |
| 38 | | | Price Daniel (1910–1988) | January 15, 1957 – January 15, 1963 (lost nomination) | Democratic | 1956 | | Ben Ramsey |
| 38 | | | Price Daniel (1910–1988) | January 15, 1957 – January 15, 1963 (lost nomination) | Democratic | 1958 | | Ben Ramsey |
| 38 | | | Price Daniel (1910–1988) | January 15, 1957 – January 15, 1963 (lost nomination) | Democratic | 1960 | | Ben Ramsey |
| Vacant ||
| 39 | | | John Connally (1917–1993) | January 15, 1963 – January 21, 1969 (did not run) | Democratic | 1962 | | Preston Smith |
| 39 | | | John Connally (1917–1993) | January 15, 1963 – January 21, 1969 (did not run) | Democratic | 1964 | | Preston Smith |
| 39 | | | John Connally (1917–1993) | January 15, 1963 – January 21, 1969 (did not run) | Democratic | 1966 | | Preston Smith |
| 40 | | | Preston Smith (1912–2003) | January 21, 1969 – January 16, 1973 (lost nomination) | Democratic | 1968 | | Ben Barnes |
| 40 | | | Preston Smith (1912–2003) | January 21, 1969 – January 16, 1973 (lost nomination) | Democratic | 1970 | | Ben Barnes |
| 41 | | | Dolph Briscoe (1923–2010) | January 16, 1973 – January 16, 1979 (lost nomination) | Democratic | 1972 | | William P. Hobby Jr. |
| 41 | | | Dolph Briscoe (1923–2010) | January 16, 1973 – January 16, 1979 (lost nomination) | Democratic | 1974 | | William P. Hobby Jr. |
| 42 | | | Bill Clements (1917–2011) | January 16, 1979 – January 18, 1983 (lost election) | Republican | 1978 | | William P. Hobby Jr. |
| 43 | | | Mark White (1940–2017) | January 18, 1983 – January 20, 1987 (lost election) | Democratic | 1982 | | William P. Hobby Jr. |
| 44 | | | Bill Clements (1917–2011) | January 20, 1987 – January 15, 1991 (did not run) | Republican | 1986 | | William P. Hobby Jr. |
| 45 | | | Ann Richards (1933–2006) | January 15, 1991 – January 17, 1995 (lost election) | Democratic | 1990 | | Bob Bullock |
| 46 | | | George W. Bush (b. 1946) | January 17, 1995 – December 21, 2000 (resigned) | Republican | 1994 | | Bob Bullock |
| 46 | | | George W. Bush (b. 1946) | January 17, 1995 – December 21, 2000 (resigned) | Republican | 1998 | | Rick Perry |
| 47 | | | Rick Perry (b. 1950) | December 21, 2000 – January 20, 2015 (did not run) | Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | | Bill Ratliff |
| 47 | | | Rick Perry (b. 1950) | December 21, 2000 – January 20, 2015 (did not run) | Republican | 2002 | | David Dewhurst |
| 47 | | | Rick Perry (b. 1950) | December 21, 2000 – January 20, 2015 (did not run) | Republican | 2006 | | David Dewhurst |
| 47 | | | Rick Perry (b. 1950) | December 21, 2000 – January 20, 2015 (did not run) | Republican | 2010 | | David Dewhurst |
| 48 | | | Greg Abbott (b. 1957) | January 20, 2015 – Incumbent | Republican | 2014 | | Dan Patrick |
| 48 | | | Greg Abbott (b. 1957) | January 20, 2015 – Incumbent | Republican | 2018 | | Dan Patrick |
| 48 | | | Greg Abbott (b. 1957) | January 20, 2015 – Incumbent | Republican | 2022 | | Dan Patrick |