Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has responded to the election results in New York, where Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee, was declared the winner of the Nov. 4 mayoral race.
Shortly after Mamdani’s victory on Tuesday evening, Abbott posted on X that he was sending “thoughts and prayers” to New York City. “Join me for a moment of silence for NYC.”
The post followed Abbott’s earlier statement on Nov. 3, in which he said he would “impose a 100% tariff on anyone moving to Texas from NYC” after polls closed.
Mamdani, 34, will become the first Muslim and first Asian American mayor of the nation’s largest city. US President Donald Trump also weighed in earlier, warning that he would likely halt federal funding.
“It can only get worse with a communist at the helm, and I don’t want to send, as president, good money after bad,” he wrote on Truth Social. “It is my obligation to run the nation, and it is my strong conviction that New York City will be a complete and total economic and social disaster should Mamdani win.”
Who is Greg Abbott?
Greg Abbott is the 48th governor of Texas. He is a member of the Republican Party and was the Texas attorney general from 2002 to 2015, making him the longest to ever hold that job. Before that, he served on the Texas Supreme Court from 1996 to 2001.
Abbott has used a wheelchair since 1984, when a tree fell on him and paralysed him from the waist down. He was the first Texas governor and the third U.S. governor overall to use a wheelchair.
As governor, Abbott is known for his conservative views and policies. He supports strict immigration control, gun rights, and laws that limit abortion.
He has focused on border security and often pushed back against federal rules, especially during President Obama’s time in office. Abbott has been reelected several times, and since Texas has no term limits for governors, he can run again when his current term ends in 2027.
He is married to Cecilia Abbott, the first Latina first lady of Texas, and they have one adopted daughter. According to Market Realist, Abbott’s net worth is about $14 million as of 2025. His wealth comes from his long career in law and politics, as well as a $7.8 million settlement from the 1984 accident. His yearly salary as governor is around $153,750.