HOUSTON (Talk1370.com) -- Governor Greg Abbott formally launched his campaign for a fourth term on Sunday, addressing a crowd in Houston with a focus on positioning Texas as a “bastion of common sense” against what he described as “far-left, progressive insanity” sweeping the country.
Reflecting on his decade in office and outlining his vision for the future, Abbott framed his campaign as a necessary defense of the state’s heritage and conservative values, promising to “defend this state with every fiber of our being” to ensure Texas remains safe, strong, and prosperous.
Abbott’s remarks focused heavily on affordability and property tax relief, a week after Texas voters approved tax-reduction amendments. He unveiled a new slate of five aggressive policy proposals aimed at permanently curbing local taxing power, declaring “It’s time to drive a stake through the heart of local property tax hikes for good.”
The proposals include allowing voters to approve abolishing school property taxes, requiring a two-thirds majority for any property tax increases, granting Texans the right to roll back rates, capping appraisal increases at 3% (down from 10%), and limiting appraisals to only once every five years.
Beyond taxes, Abbott highlighted his administration’s conservative achievements across key areas. He touted recent legislative victories such as the passage of private school vouchers, stricter border security and immigration crackdowns, and successful investments and regulation cuts in health care and housing.
Abbott also pointed to new measures in education, including abolishing diversity and inclusion practices and barring trans athletes from women’s sports, arguing these moves were putting Texas on the path to becoming the top state for public education.
The political environment and the scale of his campaign war chest were central to the event. Abbott warned that all of the state's hard-won progress could be “destroyed in one bad election,” accusing Democrats and their “socialist backers” of aiming to “crush your economy” and “destroy your jobs.” Abbott enters the election cycle with a staggering almost $90 million on hand, a formidable sum for any challenger, bolstered by a record-breaking $10 million in donations from GOP megadonor Jeff Yass.
Some of Abbott's financial war chest is expected to be directed toward flipping key areas, particularly Harris County, red in 2026.
Over his tenure, Abbott has transformed from a once-restrained executive into a partisan warrior, closely aligned with President Donald Trump and willing to employ scorched-earth tactics. His recent legislative successes, including pushing through private school vouchers after spending millions to oust anti-voucher Republican incumbents, and signing a new congressional map to secure additional GOP seats, have solidified his partisan credentials.
As he concluded his address, Abbott rallied his supporters: “Let’s keep Texas, Texas.”