Gov. Greg Abbott has officially launched his 2026 reelection campaign, seeking an unprecedented fourth term as Texas governor.
Speaking before supporters in Houston Sunday night, Abbott framed his campaign around defending “the promise of Texas” and pledged to “win back Harris County” while unveiling what he called a bold new property-tax reform plan.
“Texas is not just another state. It’s our home. Our heritage. Texas is the heartbeat of this land we call America,” Abbott said. “We will protect what we built, finish what we started, and lead Texas into its glorious future.”
Abbott’s proposal takes aim at skyrocketing property appraisals and local tax increases, arguing that it’s local governments—not the state—that are driving Texans’ rising bills.
The plan would cap local government spending growth at the lesser of 3.5 percent or the rate of population growth and inflation, would require two-thirds voter approval before any local tax increase can take effect (a proposal he announced earlier this year but which failed to gain traction in the legislature), and would allow voters to petition for rollback elections if 15 percent of registered voters sign on.
The plan also seeks to rein in property appraisals by requiring reappraisals only once every five years and lowering the annual appraisal growth cap from 10 percent to 3 percent, expanding that limit to all properties—including rentals and businesses.
The most dramatic change would allow Texans to vote on a constitutional amendment to eliminate school-district property taxes for homeowners, shifting the state toward a system in which taxpayers, not local governments, have the final say. Abbott said the reforms would ensure “complete control over their property taxes” and protect Texans from being taxed out of their homes.
“It’s time to drive a stake through the heart of local property tax hikes for good,” he said. “We are going to turn the tables on local taxing authorities, put the power with the people, and put an end to out-of-control property taxes in Texas.”
The governor also cast the 2026 race as a cultural fight, vowing to defend Texas’ values from what he described as “radical, woke Democrats who want to turn Texas blue.”
“What we have in Texas is precious, but it can all be destroyed in one bad election,” Abbott warned. “Make no mistake: Democrats want that election to be this election.”
If Abbott wins again, he would be on track to become the longest-serving governor in Texas history, surpassing Rick Perry’s 14-year tenure. Texas has no gubernatorial term limits, but no governor has ever been elected to four consecutive four-year terms.
First elected in 2014, Abbott cruised to reelection in 2018 and again in 2022, handily defeating Democrat Robert “Beto” O’Rourke.
Filing for the 2026 primary elections opened November 8 and runs through December 8. Unlike four years ago, when Abbott faced multiple well-funded primary challengers, the governor enters this cycle with a massive financial advantage—nearly $100 million in campaign cash on hand.
