State Rep. Gina Hinojosa is projected to win the race for Texas governor, defeating incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, according to reports from CNN and NBC. Hinojosa, a former Austin Independent School District board member, mounted a surprisingly competitive challenge in a state that has not elected a Democrat or a woman to the governor’s mansion since Ann Richards in 1990. Her victory also makes history, as she will be Texas’ first Latina governor.
As of late Tuesday evening, Hinojosa held 57.1% of the vote compared to Abbott's 41.7%. Hinojosa ran on a populist message, criticizing Abbott’s billionaire donors and a school voucher program championed by the governor. While previously identifying as progressive, Hinojosa has recently shied away from that label, citing "deep disappointment in both...parties" as she sought to appeal to disillusioned voters across the political spectrum.
During her campaign, Hinojosa focused heavily on education policy, advocating for increased funding for public schools and higher teacher salaries. Her platform also included addressing healthcare costs and establishing protections for residents against data centers. "In order to save public schools, in order to have a government that works for us, we had to reach for that brass ring of the governor’s mansion," Hinojosa said at a Texas Tribune event in September.
Although polls indicated a close race leading up to election day, Hinojosa’s win over Abbott was still considered a long shot. Abbott, first elected in 2015, was seeking an unprecedented fourth term. During his tenure, he was known for consolidating gubernatorial power and backing conservative priorities, including some of the nation's strictest abortion bans, aggressive border security measures, and a gerrymandered state House map. Hinojosa’s notable victory highlights the resonance of her campaign's message with voters and the momentum Democrats gained amid backlash against Republicans.