Texas Governor Greg Abbott says he’s figured out how to turn his political priorities into legislative victories — and now he’s planning to use that strategy to take on property taxes.
After years of failed attempts, Abbott successfully pushed through his school voucher plan and bail reform during the most recent legislative session. The key, he says, was campaigning hard — both publicly and behind the scenes — to build pressure on lawmakers who previously opposed those measures.
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“If you look at what I was able to do this session, through me being out there campaigning on the issue, I was able to move the Texas House of Representatives from 29 of them who would support school choice to 86,” Abbott said, referring to the dramatic increase in support between 2021 and now.
He used a similar strategy for bail reform, focusing his efforts on specific districts where he believed votes could be shifted. In both cases, he didn’t just lobby quietly — he publicly criticized resistant lawmakers and spent millions of dollars to oust incumbents who wouldn’t get in line.
Buoyed by that success, Abbott now wants to apply the same approach to a new target: local governments and their role in driving up property taxes.
“I’m just thinking, well, it worked with these two strategies, maybe it’s time to employ the same strategy as it concerns property taxes,” he said.
While state lawmakers often pass legislation aimed at lowering property taxes, Abbott argues the real control lies with local entities — including city governments, hospital districts, and community colleges — which he accuses of undermining state relief efforts by continuing to raise tax rates.
Abbott believes the issue isn’t just about legislation — it’s about shaping public opinion and connecting with voters to put pressure on local leaders. He admits he hasn’t campaigned as hard on property tax reform as he did on his other victories, but that’s likely to change.
What this next phase will look like isn’t fully defined yet. But Abbott made it clear he plans to be more active in holding local governments accountable, setting the stage for another potentially intense political battle if he seeks re-election in 2026.
