Controversial New Texas Law Sparks Fears of Reproductive Rights Limitations

Greg Abbott, born Gregory Wayne Abbott on November 13, 1957, in Wichita Falls, Texas, is the 48th governor of Texas, serving since January 2015 after winning elections in 2014, 2018, and 2022.[1][2][4] A Republican and staunch conservative, he previously held the position of Texas attorney general from 2002 to 2015—the longest tenure in state history—where he defended state rights, religious liberty, and frequently challenged federal policies under the Obama administration.[1][2][3][6] Abbott's early career included roles as a state district judge in Harris County starting in 1992 and as a justice on the Texas Supreme Court from 1996 to 2001, appointed by then-Governor George W. Bush.[1][4][6] In 1984, at age 26, he was paralyzed from the waist down after a tree fell on him during a jog, requiring him to use a wheelchair; he became the first U.S. governor to do so since 1982 and only the third in American history.[1][2] As governor, Abbott has prioritized low taxes, budget cuts, economic growth, education funding, and border security through Operation Lone Star, including deploying troops, installing razor wire and buoys, busing migrants to sanctuary cities, and declaring Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations.[2][3][4][5] He signed constitutional carry legislation in 2021, allowing permitless handgun carry for most adults over 21, amid mass shootings like Sutherland Springs in 2017.[1] His administration has overseen record job creation, property tax reforms, bans on sanctuary cities, and protections for the unborn.[3][4][5] Disputes with federal officials over border measures persisted into 2023-2024.[2] In July 2025, Abbott declared a state of emergency after severe central Texas flooding killed over 150 people, securing federal disaster aid.[1] He remains a prominent national conservative figure, named "Best Governor in the Nation" in 2020.[5]