All states

Texas

Governor of Texas

Election day · November 3, 2026

Statewide race. Each issue below lists every candidate's stance, what they have said in their own words, and the policies they say they want to implement — with sources.

Head to head

Leading Republican

Greg Abbott

Republican · Governor of Texas · Incumbent

Greg Abbott is the 48th Governor of Texas, serving since 2015. He previously served as Texas Attorney General and as a Justice on the Supreme Court of Texas.

Leading Democrat

Beto O'Rourke

Democratic · Former U.S. Representative · Challenger

Beto O'Rourke is a politician and former U.S. Representative who was the Democratic nominee for Governor of Texas in 2022.

The issues

Abortion

Greg Abbott

Opposes

Abbott opposes abortion access and supported Texas's strict prohibitions on the procedure.

In their words

  • Texas is taking steps to protect the unborn.

Policies they want to implement

  • Enforce complete abortion bans
  • Support crisis pregnancy center funding

Beto O'Rourke

Supports

O'Rourke supports protecting abortion access and restoring reproductive rights in Texas law.

In their words

  • We must protect reproductive freedom and codify Roe v. Wade.

Policies they want to implement

  • Codifying abortion rights
  • Repealing state abortion bans
  • Funding reproductive healthcare services

Immigration

Greg Abbott

Opposes

Abbott opposes expanded access for immigration and advocates for strict state-level border control enforcement.

In their words

  • Texas will continue using every tool and strategy to secure the border.

Policies they want to implement

  • Operation Lone Star deployment
  • Construction of state border barriers
  • Interstate transport of migrants

Beto O'Rourke

Supports

O'Rourke supports expanding legal pathways for immigration, ending Operation Lone Star, and protecting asylum seekers.

Policies they want to implement

  • Ending Operation Lone Star
  • Expanding legal immigration pathways
  • Protecting Dreamers

Healthcare

Greg Abbott

Opposes

Abbott opposes Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, favoring private market healthcare solutions.

Policies they want to implement

  • Reject federal Medicaid expansion
  • Expand association health plans

Beto O'Rourke

Supports

O'Rourke supports expanding Medicaid in Texas under the Affordable Care Act to broaden healthcare coverage.

In their words

  • Expanding Medicaid will bring billions of our tax dollars back to Texas.

Policies they want to implement

  • Accepting federal Medicaid expansion
  • Lowering prescription drug costs
  • Increasing funding for rural hospitals

Middle East Conflict

Greg Abbott

Supports

Abbott supports Israel and has implemented state measures prohibiting contracts with companies boycotting Israel.

Policies they want to implement

  • State enforcement of anti-BDS laws
  • Increase security funding for Jewish institutions

Beto O'Rourke

No public position

Nothing on record.

Economy & Jobs

Greg Abbott

Mixed

Abbott promotes lower taxes, business deregulation, and corporate recruitment to spur Texas economic growth.

In their words

  • Texas is the economic engine of America.

Policies they want to implement

  • State property tax relief
  • Business deregulation
  • Job creation incentives

Beto O'Rourke

Mixed

O'Rourke supports raising the minimum wage, expanding renewable energy jobs, and investing in public education.

Policies they want to implement

  • Increasing state minimum wage
  • Investing in renewable energy jobs
  • Expanding workforce training programs

Housing

Greg Abbott

Mixed

Abbott focuses on reducing local property tax burdens to improve overall housing affordability in Texas.

Policies they want to implement

  • Property tax compression
  • Streamline local development permitting

Beto O'Rourke

Mixed

O'Rourke advocates for expanding affordable housing options and revising property tax structures for homeowners.

Policies they want to implement

  • Expanding affordable housing incentives
  • Property tax reform for primary homeowners

Public Safety

Greg Abbott

Mixed

Abbott supports higher funding for law enforcement, stricter bail conditions, and increased penalties for violent crime.

Policies they want to implement

  • Increase law enforcement funding
  • Bail reform restrictions
  • Mandatory minimums for repeat offenders

Beto O'Rourke

Mixed

O'Rourke supports firearm safety laws such as universal background checks and red flag laws.

Policies they want to implement

  • Universal background checks
  • Red flag laws
  • Raising minimum legal age to purchase assault-style rifles