Gov. Greg Abbott energizes supporters with vows to focus on education and the border as his third term begins

Attendees cheer and photograph Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick after he takes the oath of office at the state Capitol in Austin on Jan. 17, 2023. (Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune)

For Meg Ramirez, the beginning of Gov. Greg Abbott’s third term was reason enough to take a day off work and drive several hours from San Benito to watch him get sworn in at the Texas Capitol on Tuesday.

She and her daughter, Marina Herrera, were among hundreds outside the pink-domed Capitol building in Austin as Abbott took the oath of office for the third time, putting him on track to be the second-longest-running governor in state history. They spent much of the day walking around the Capitol grounds and cheering through the inaugural speeches.