Gov. Greg Abbott Took The Oath Of Office To Become Texas 48th Governor
incoming Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick as they arrive
for their inauguration, Tuesday, Jan. 20,
2015, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
AP — Texas has a new governor for the first time in 14 years as Gov. Greg Abbott took the oath of office to become the state’s 48th governor on the South Lawn of the Texas Capitol Tuesday.
Abbott took the oath on a bible handed down to him by his father and the traditional bible used by Texas governors, which is believed to have been used when Sam Houston was inaugurated as president of the Republic of Texas.
The governor highlighted the success of Texans who overcame struggles and went on to do realize their dreams in the state. Saying, “Where a 13-year-old daughter of immigrants from Mexico worked nights in a drapery factory but never gave up on her dreams. Now Eva Guzman is the first Latina to serve as a Justice on the Texas Supreme Court.”
Abbott went on to say there is more that must be done for Texans.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick was sworn in by his son, Ryan Patrick, a district judge in Houston. During the ceremony, Patrick paused to take a selfie prior to delivering his inaugural remarks.
A devout born-again Christian, Patrick had been a state senator since 2007. He was inaugurated on the Texas Capitol steps Tuesday by his son Ryan, a state district judge in Houston.
He also cited Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in praising “school choice,” or controversial voucher programs that allow taxpayer money to flow to private and religious schools.
Patrick has also promised deep property and business tax cuts.
The 54-year-old succeeds former Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, who had been lieutenant governor since 2003 but lost to Patrick in a bitter Republican primary last March.
