Austin ∙ At the beginning of each year on the opening day of the legislative session, state governors address both houses and deliver the State of the State address. This time in Texas, Governor Greg Abbott’s third term speech was the inauguration, according to tradition. Texas has not had a Democratic governor since 1991.
Governor (Republican) Greg Abbott’s third term has begun. It is reported that Abbott will try to become the Republican candidate in the next presidential election, as his predecessor, Governor Rick Perry, did before the end of this four-year term. The governor had given some suggestions about this earlier. But Abbott made a conscious effort not to let even the slightest hint of this creep into his speech or during the question-and-answer session that followed.
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Over the past few weeks, some state governors have emphasized rhetoric on issues voters like to hear, such as tax cuts, parental rights protections, public schools, crime reduction efforts, and closing the US-Mexico border. The goal is to reach the White House. Abbott did not even remotely use these manual techniques. Observers say Abbott’s speech did not even come close to what Florida Gov Ron de Santos said in Tallahassee two weeks ago: “We will never give in to people waking up.”
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Georgia Governor Brian Kemp recalled the importance of kitchen table issues. Kemp is also trying to build his reputation internationally. He is speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, along with six other US political leaders. A Political Action Committee was also formed recently. He is said to be running for the Senedd in 2026 and for the presidency in 2028.
Abbott may push a national election campaign later this year. This is what Perry did after the 2011 legislative session. Some of Perry’s advisers later said it was too late and caused him to lose the election. Perry announced his candidacy on August 13, 2011 in Charleston, South Carolina. Perry himself wanted to remain governor of Texas, but at the insistence of his wife Anita, he resigned and ran for president.
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Abbott can stay on as governor if he wants to and seek a 4th term four years later. In some states in America, a person can only be governor three times. However, some states such as Texas do not have this prohibition. The current session of the Texas Legislature continues through May 29.
