Texas state Rep. Gina Hinojosa has defeated incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, according to projections from the Fox News Decision Desk. This victory marks the end of a 36-year losing streak for Democrats in Texas gubernatorial elections and makes Hinojosa the first Latina governor in the state's history.
Hinojosa, a former president of the Austin public school system and a civil rights lawyer, ran her campaign on key issues including public education funding, teacher pay, opposition to school vouchers, and opposition to data center moratoriums. She also focused on providing relief for pocketbook issues, framing her candidacy as a fight against "the billionaires and the corporations" that she claimed were driving up prices and impacting basic healthcare.
Gov. Abbott, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, was seeking an historic fourth term. His campaign focused on economic issues under his "Keep Texas Affordable" agenda, promising to lower property taxes, healthcare costs, housing, insurance, and electricity prices. He also framed his candidacy as a defense against the rise of socialism in American politics.
Hinojosa's campaign strategy included linking Abbott to former President Trump, characterizing both as participants in "power grabs" and institutional corruption. Abbott conceded the election, congratulating Hinojosa on her win.
"It has been the joy of my life to be the governor of the state of Texas," Abbott told supporters.
Abbott, a conservative governor, had pushed for tighter border security, strict abortion restrictions, school choice vouchers, expanded gun rights, and lower business regulations during his tenure. Hinojosa's focus on education funding and opposition to vouchers contrasted with Abbott's platform. She also criticized his stance on issues like data center expansion, which saw Abbott at odds with former President Trump.
Hinojosa's win represents a significant shift in Texas politics, challenging a long-standing Republican hold on the state's executive office. Her campaign's success in mobilizing voters around issues of education and economic relief appears to have been pivotal in unseating the incumbent governor.