I just found out that Greg Abbott is still the governor of Texas, and people can’t stop asking when his term ends. It turns out he’s in his third term, and it’s interesting because Texas has no limit on re-elections like other places.

So, to answer when Greg Abbott’s term ends: technically in 2026, but the transfer of power is only finalized in January 2027, when the new governor takes office. The Texas Constitution says that the governor “holds the office for four years or until his successor is duly installed.” Abbott was first elected in 2014, re-elected in 2018, and again in 2022.

What’s crazy is that the Texas Constitution doesn’t set a term limit, so technically Abbott could keep running indefinitely if he wanted to. As long as he meets the requirements and wins the elections, he can seek new terms without restriction. That’s pretty different from what happens with the U.S. presidency or in other states where there is a cap.

The governor in Texas has a lot of power: he can veto laws, controls the state’s military forces, grants pardons, and fills vacancies. If something happened to the governor, the lieutenant governor automatically assumes the position. So Abbott’s role is quite influential, especially considering his clout in the Partido Republicano at the national level.