TEXAS, USA — This year, a familiar Texas face has been featured as one of TIME magazine's '100 Most Influential People of 2024.'
The official compilation of recipients was released on April 17, with one of the profiles featuring Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
Abbott was placed in the 'Leaders' category alongside California Gov. Gavin Newsom, upcoming Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te and Qatar Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, to name a few.
On Thursday morning, Abbott released a statement upon receiving the title, which said, in part: "From building the eighth-largest economy in the world to leading a historic border security mission amidst the most prolific border crisis our nation has ever seen, one thing remains clear: where Texas leads, others follow. I am proud of the work we have accomplished and look forward to building an even bigger, better Texas for generations to come."
The Texas governor has been serving in his current role for the past nine years and has remained firm in his stance on border control, immigration and gun laws, among others.
A TIME senior correspondent wrote of Abbott's "handling of an ice storm that snowballed into an energy crisis" along with the governor's response to the 2022 shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, as some of his more controversial moments.
These beliefs have stirred conversation not just in Texas, but throughout the U.S.
Other Texans who have taken the title
While Abbott made the 2024 list, he's not the first Texan to be honored as one of TIME's 100.
Previously chosen individuals include U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, singer and actress Selena Gomez, and retired Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt.
Each year, TIME also releases its 'Person of the Year' award, previously given to Texas leaders including Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1944 and 1959, as well as Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 and 1967.
Visit here to check out the complete 2024 TIME100 list.