Reagan, Ronald
1981–1989
Reagan's package — supply-side tax cuts, deregulation, Cold War confrontation with foreign adversaries, federalism, and the 1986 IRCA amnesty for 3 million undocumented immigrants — aligns Abbott on tax cuts and deregulation (the $18B property-tax cut, R&D credit overhaul, business personal-property exemption raise, anti-vaccine-mandate stance) and on adversary-state policy (SB 17 against China/Russia/Iran/NK). But Abbott runs against Reagan's IRCA strand on the deportation-first immigration posture. Hinojosa runs against Reagan on tax cuts but is closer on the legalization-track immigration strand. Reagan also signed the deficit-financed S&L bailout — a state-led intervention that doesn't match Hinojosa's frame either. Abbott is the substantially closer Reagan fit on the tax/regulation/foreign-adversary strands; Hinojosa picks up partial credit on the amnesty strand.
Sources
- Patrick Svitek, 'Gov. Greg Abbott signs $18 billion property tax cut into law,' Texas Tribune, July 22, 2023. (full list)
- Hechinger Report, 'What's happened since Texas killed in-state tuition for undocumented students,' 2025. (full list)
- Houston Public Media, 'Gov. Abbott expected to sign bill blocking land sales to people connected with four foreign governments,' June 20, 2025. (full list)
- Patrick Svitek and Cassandra Pollock, 'Abbott signs sanctuary cities bill,' Texas Tribune, May 7, 2017. (full list)
- Ronald Reagan, 'A Time for Choosing' (1964); 1981 Inaugural; 1986 amnesty (IRCA); 'Tear down this wall.' (full list)