As Gov. Greg Abbott begins his third term in office, he vows to focus on education and the border, energizing his supporters.

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For Meg Ramirez, the start of Governor Greg Abbott’s third term was reason enough to take a break from work and drive a few hours from San Benito to see him take the oath of office at the Texas Capitol on Tuesday.

When Abbott took the oath of office for the third time, she and her daughter Marina Herrera were in the hundreds outside Austin’s pink-domed Capitol. They spent most of her day roaming the Capitol grounds and even cheering during her inaugural address.

“Everybody was excited,” Herrera said. “We had to talk to new people and everyone had a good attitude about it. They are very optimistic.”

Abbott is in a turbulent second period marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, statewide blackouts, controversial new voting restrictions, a near-total abortion ban, and the worst school shootings in the United States. Nevertheless, after easily defeating Democratic agitator Beto O’Rourke, he sailed for reelection easily in November. Texas history.

Hundreds of spectators were greeted Tuesday morning on the north lawn of the sunny Texas Capitol by marching band fanfare playing “Texas, Our Texas.” Republican Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick was also inaugurated for a third term. Legislators and their families sat on stage under the Texas flag as attendees cheered, videotaped and fanned in 80-degree weather.

For conservatives and Abbott supporters, even those who disagree with the governor on all issues, attending the inauguration is a sign that Texas’ leaders are planning for the legislative session, which starts last week and runs through May 29. It was a chance to hear for myself that

In his inaugural address, Mr. Abbott focused on “parental rights” in schools, public safety, and the stability of the Texas power grid, which was spectacularly crippled in a winter storm two years ago.

“I thought it was very promising,” said Herrera, a self-professed diehard independent.

Abbott and Republican staunch supporter Karen Clarke had hoped to attend a Catholic mass that was part of Monday night’s inaugural event. has reached capacity. She was still praying earlier in the day for the upcoming legislative session. She said God gave the members of parliament five words: wisdom, strength, knowledge, courage and guidance.

Clark said he wrote letters to the governor frequently, and even criticized him for not doing enough about the surge in immigration across the Texas-Mexico border. I was thrilled to receive an invitation in the mail.

“Maybe they understood what I had to say. I donated to the Republican Party, but at one point I told him I couldn’t support him. I sent this invitation to , so I think he’s trying to convince me,” Clarke joked.

On Tuesday morning, supporters gathered at the University Avenue Church of Christ for a prayer service. The church was packed again before the service began, with patrons queuing to pray for the legislator and hear from several pastors, including Rev. Todd Steuman of Providence Church in Austin. Stewman led prayers and urged legislators to serve the people of Texas with humility and reliance on God. Raymond Benjamin Burruss, a retired real estate investor, attended the service on Monday.

Barlass said the service convinced many Texans of their support for prayer and conservative values.

“Sometimes you listen to the media and you don’t know it,” says Barlass. “I get energy when I see people gathering.”

Texas National Guard lieutenant colonel Mark Dunham drove from his home in El Paso to show his support at Abbott’s inauguration on Tuesday. He also came to hear about the governor’s plans to secure the border.

Dunham will be with Operation Lone Star starting in 2022, serving with the National Guard and Public Security at the border in Laredo.

He said border security is his biggest concern during this legislative session. Abbott and Patrick reinforced their commitment to defending the border in their inaugural addresses. The crowd cheered when Patrick mentioned that Abbott has been bussing illegal immigrants to Democratic-led cities like New York City, Chicago and Washington, D.C. since last year.

Abbott made national headlines on Christmas Eve when a bus carrying more than 100 men, women and children arrived at the residence of Vice President Kamala Harris in Washington, D.C. in 18-degree temperatures.

Dunham said he supports the governor’s decision as it has drawn national attention to the border.

“In cities like Eagle Pass and Del Rio, thousands of people flock to town every day. What should they do?” Dunham said. “The governor decided to put them on the bus. They get a fraction of what cities like Eagle Pass and Del Rio get every day.”

Many supporters came to Austin wanting to hear about the governor’s plan to protect what he calls “parental rights” in public schools. Before Patrick and Abbott took the oath of office, Montgomery’s Lone Star Reverend Randy Weaver of his Cowboy Church delivered a speech warning of the “immoral Trojan horse” in Texas schools.

Many supporters, including Dunham, echoed this sentiment. He said he was worried about state education.

“I am concerned with much of this awakening and anything that seeks to supersede family values ​​and religious morality,” he said.

Republican leaders in Texas are restricting how the country’s racist history is taught in public schools. Some, including Patrick, have advocated limiting when schoolchildren learn about sexuality and gender identity. , says such laws would further underrepresent LGBTQ people.

McKinney’s Nicole Earls said the biggest issues plaguing the legislative session are parental rights and the ability to make medical and educational decisions for their children without mandate.

“I really believe it’s very important for governments to understand that parents deserve to raise their children in the way they think is best,” she said.

Abbott has been criticized for facing heat from all sides during the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, closing businesses and voiding local mask mandates.

Herrera, who attended the inauguration with her mother driving from San Benito, said she supported Abbott on most things but didn’t like the state’s current ban on abortion. said he saw many in high school being parents despite being unprepared for the role.

“It’s one of the toughest decisions I believe an individual should make,” Herrera said.

But Herrera and her mother still stand by Abbott’s other decisions as governor.

“I’m not going to turn my back on people for that particular topic,” Herrera said.