# Michelle Watts | Best in Government Affairs TX 2026 > Michelle Watts is a 2026 Best in Government Affairs Texas honoree, recognized as Policy Intelligence Leaders of the Year. Canonical: https://www.uslege.ai/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/michelle-watts --- [Best in Government Affairs](/best-in-government-affairs)› [Texas](/best-in-government-affairs/texas)› [2026](/best-in-government-affairs/texas#honorees)› [Policy Intelligence Leaders of the Year](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/top-policy-experts)› **Michelle Watts** USLege · Best in Government Affairs · Texas Texas · 2026 Honoree ![Michelle Watts, Budget and Policy Advisor at Office of the Texas Governor, Greg Abbott. Winner, Policy Intelligence Leaders of the Year, 2026 Best in Government Affairs Texas](/assets/awards/tx-2026/michelle-watts.jpg) Category [Policy Intelligence Leaders of the Year](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/top-policy-experts) Organization [Office of the Texas Governor, Greg Abbott](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/firms#office-of-texas-governor-greg-abbott) Title Budget and Policy Advisor [View LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-watts-52200a228) [Visit Office of the Texas Governor, Greg Abbott](https://gov.texas.gov/) [08 · Policy Intelligence Leaders of the Year](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/top-policy-experts) # Michelle Watts **Budget and Policy Advisor**, Office of the Texas Governor, Greg Abbott Michelle Watts, Budget and Policy Advisor at Office of the Texas Governor, Greg Abbott, is a 2026 Best in Government Affairs Texas honoree in the Policy Intelligence Leaders of the Year category. The awards are peer-nominated. Michelle Watts represents the next generation of policy leadership in Texas. Combining sharp analytical skill with an extraordinary ability to grasp the complexities of state governance. At just 26, she serves as a Budget and Policy Advisor in the Office of Governor Greg Abbott, where she leads on issues spanning higher education, pensions, and state budget strategy. Since joining the Governor’s Office in 2021, Michelle’s trajectory has been marked by focus and precision. She quickly advanced from a constituent services role to the Budget & Policy Division, advising the Director of Budget before being appointed as the Governor’s sole Higher Education Advisor. During both the 88th and 89th Legislative Sessions, Michelle briefed the Governor daily on key policy and fiscal matters. It’s this rare dual portfolio that underscores her talent, discipline, and trustworthiness. > “Michelle is young and hardworking,” one nominator noted. “She has proven it’s possible to handle both policy and budget responsibilities at once and to do it exceptionally well.” A graduate of Texas Tech University and a current MBA student at the University of Texas McCombs School of Business, Michelle is also an alumna of the LBJ Women’s Campaign School and active member of Pink Granite Foundation and Capitol Republican Women. As one of this year’s Policy Intelligence Leaders of the Year, Michelle Watts embodies the intellect, drive, and strategic insight shaping the future of Texas public policy. 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[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/matthew-conner.jpg) **Matthew Conner**Arete Public Affairs](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/matthew-conner)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/matt-ruszczak.jpg) **Matt Ruszczak**Texas Division of Emergency Management ](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/matt-ruszczak)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/louie-sanchez.jpg) **Louie Sanchez**Hance Scarborough ](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/louie-sanchez)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/kyle-mauro.jpg) **Kyle Mauro**HillCo Partners ](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/kyle-mauro)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/juliana-peceli.jpg) **Juliana Peceli**Office of Texas State Rep. David Cook ](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/juliana-peceli)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/j-r-bloom.jpg) **J.R. Bloom**Las Vegas Sands Corp. ](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/j-r-bloom)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/jordan-wat.jpg) **Jordan Wat**Texas 2036 ](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/jordan-wat)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/christina-gonzalez.jpg) **Christina Gonzalez**CenterPoint Energy ](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/christina-gonzalez)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/ben-wright.jpg) **Ben Wright**Texas Medical Association ](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/ben-wright)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/andrew-brown.jpg) **Andrew Brown**Texas Public Policy Foundation ](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/andrew-brown)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/addison-reagan.jpg) **Addison Reagan**Teacher Retirement System of Texas](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/addison-reagan) Also honored from [Office of the Texas Governor, Greg Abbott](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/firms#office-of-texas-governor-greg-abbott): [Morghan Armenta](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/morghan-armenta). [All Texas honorees](/best-in-government-affairs/texas#honorees) [Policy Intelligence Leaders of the Year](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/top-policy-experts) [Honorees by firm](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/firms) The platform behind the awards ## Track the Texas Legislature the way _honorees do_. USLege covers every Texas bill, hearing, and floor debate with live video, transcripts, and cited AI answers. See why the people on this page use it. [Explore USLege Texas](/states/texas) [Built for lobbyists](/for/lobbyists)