Democrat Gina Hinojosa has defeated Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in the Texas gubernatorial election, a significant upset that ends a long streak of GOP leadership in the state. The Associated Press called the race for Hinojosa on Tuesday night.
Hinojosa will become the first Democrat to lead Texas in decades and will also be the state's first Hispanic governor. Texas has been led by Republican governors since 1995, when George W. Bush won the office.
In a concession speech Tuesday night, Abbott congratulated Hinojosa and reflected on his 12 years as governor. "I love our state. It has been an honor to serve it," Abbott said.
The victory for Hinojosa occurred despite a substantial spending advantage for Abbott's campaign. According to campaign finance filings, Abbott's campaign spent $281 million compared to Hinojosa's $36.8 million over the past year.
Abbott, who served three terms as governor, had previously held positions on the Texas Supreme Court and served as the state's attorney general for over a decade before winning the governorship in 2014. Former President Donald Trump commented on Abbott's loss, suggesting that a shift in his political approach contributed to the defeat.
Abbott's loss is part of a broader trend in Texas, where Democrats secured other key victories. In a notable upset, Democrat James Talarico defeated Attorney General Ken Paxton in the state's Senate race, marking the first time a Democrat has won a statewide race in Texas in over 30 years.