<P> Despite the lack of term limits , no Texas governor in the 19th or 20th centuries ever served more than seven and a half consecutive years in office ( Allan Shivers ) or eight years total service ( Bill Clements , in two non-consecutive four - year terms ) . Former Governor Rick Perry , who served from 2000 to 2015 , has now surpassed both these records , becoming the first Texas governor to serve three consecutive terms . When Perry won the general election on November 2 , 2010 , he joined Shivers , Price Daniel , and John Connally as the only Texas governors elected to three terms ( the terms served by Governors Shivers , Daniel , and Connally were 2 year terms ) . In case of a vacancy in the office of governor , the lieutenant governor becomes governor . This rule was added only in a 1999 amendment , prior to which the lieutenant governor only acted as governor , except during the time of the 1861 constitution , which said that the lieutenant governor would be styled `` Governor of the State of Texas '' in case of vacancy . </P>
<P> Despite the lack of term limits , no Texas governor in the 19th or 20th centuries ever served more than seven and a half consecutive years in office ( Allan Shivers ) or eight years total service ( Bill Clements , in two non-consecutive four - year terms ) . Former Governor Rick Perry , who served from 2000 to 2015 , has now surpassed both these records , becoming the first Texas governor to serve three consecutive terms . When Perry won the general election on November 2 , 2010 , he joined Shivers , Price Daniel , and John Connally as the only Texas governors elected to three terms ( the terms served by Governors Shivers , Daniel , and Connally were 2 year terms ) . In case of a vacancy in the office of governor , the lieutenant governor becomes governor . This rule was added only in a 1999 amendment , prior to which the lieutenant governor only acted as governor , except during the time of the 1861 constitution , which said that the lieutenant governor would be styled `` Governor of the State of Texas '' in case of vacancy . </P>
held office longer than any previous texas governor
held office longer than any previous texas governor
Former Governor Rick Perry
Former Governor Rick Perry