Gov. Greg Abbott is on track to consolidate even more power if he wins an unprecedented fourth term in November.

Why it matters: Abbott has redefined the powers of a Texas governor, is largely unchallenged within his party and has remained relatively popular over his 11 years in power.

• If he wins in November, Abbott could break former Gov. Rick Perry's record of 14 years and one month in office.

What they're saying: "He can be governor as long as he wants," Cal Jillson, political science professor at SMU, tells Axios.

Zoom in: Abbott has exercised power through disaster declarations, veto threats and state agency control, even as Texas governors are institutionally weak, Brandon Rottinghaus, political science professor at the University of Houston, tells Axios.

• The governor wields major influence over the state Legislature, using his fundraising prowess in 2024 to help oust GOP lawmakers who opposed his school voucher program, which passed last year.
• "The strongest governors are the ones who can make the most of the powers that they have. He's done that," Rottinghaus says of Abbott. "He's pushed Texas' traditionally weak governor model close to its limits."

The other side: "All indicators are that this is the perfect opportunity, kind of perfect storm of opportunities, to be running for change," state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, the Austin Democrat challenging Abbott, tells Axios.

• Hinojosa emphasized strong Democratic turnout in this year's primary election, and signs that Texas Hispanic voters are turning back toward Democrats, as signals that the party can perform better in November.

"Governor Abbott's main focus is building on Texas' record of success and delivering even more results for hardworking families," Abbott spokesperson Andrew Mahaleris tells Axios in a statement.

What's next: Texans can expect Abbott to exert more executive power and be more willing to bypass or pressure the Legislature next year if he wins reelection, Rottinghaus says.

• Property tax relief is Abbott's top priority for next year's legislative session, Mahaleris says.

Go deeper

Dallas-Fort Worth home sellers are turning into what Zillow calls "accidental landlords."

The big picture: As buyers gain leverage and homes take longer to sell, a growing share of homeowners are renting their properties out instead.

By the numbers: Nationally, 2.3% of rental listings on Zillow in October were previously for sale, according to the real estate site. That's the highest level since late 2022, when mortgage rates topped 7%.

• Dallas-Fort Worth has the eighth highest share of accidental landlords in the country, with 3.4%, per Zillow.
• Houston, Austin and San Antonio are in the top five.

How it works: These homes were listed for sale on Zillow for at least two weeks, then delisted and relisted as rentals within three months of being off the market.

Zoom in: Accidental landlords are most common in softer markets with more price cuts, Zillow found.

• Texas and Florida had 7 of the 10 metros with the highest shares of accidental landlords, while Denver led at 4.9%.
• Shares were lowest in the Northeast and Midwest markets.

Zoom out: Charging rent may help homeowners cover their mortgage payments, especially those with low rates.

• But being a landlord isn't easy — and costs can pile up, from repairs to property management fees.

Between the lines: Accidental landlords also add homes to the rental pool, which can ease rent prices.

What we're watching: Whether sellers who pulled listings last year have better luck as they try again. Redfin reports that many have relisted.

🗳️ Dallas County Republicans are suing the county elections department to require precinct-based voting for the May 26 primary runoff, but election officials say it's too late to make a change. (Texas Tribune)

🏗️ The Dallas City Council is set to vote on a low-income housing proposal that could add hundreds of income-restricted units. (DMN)

🏢 Nextdoor's chief executive is establishing a Dallas office, adding to the company's footprint in Uptown. (Dallas Business Journal)

Spring brings one of the best times to spot an otherworldly glow in the night sky.

Now is prime time in the Northern Hemisphere to see the zodiacal light — or "false dusk" — about an hour after sunset on the western horizon.

• The phenomenon is caused by sunlight reflecting off a vast cloud of dust spread through our solar system, according to EarthSky.
• Scientists had long thought the dust comes from comets and asteroid collisions — but newer research suggests some of it may come from Mars, per NASA.

Pro tip: Head to a dark area away from Dallas-Fort Worth lights if you can. (This light pollution map offers a good guide of dark spots)

• Watch for a faint triangular glow that's whitish, not pink like twilight.

The bottom line: It's not just that corner behind your bathroom door — the entire universe is dusty.