Politics · United States · 1 hr ago
Gina Hinojosa defeats Greg Abbott to win Texas governor's race
Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Republican Greg Abbott in the Texas governor's race, according to the Associated Press's call.
Abbott's loss ends more than three decades of Republican control of the governor's office and denies him a fourth term.
Hinojosa will be Texas's first Latina governor when she takes office in January 2027, and the state's first Democratic governor since Ann Richards left office in 1995.
The Austin state representative built her campaign around public education and household costs, and opposed Abbott's private-school voucher program.
She also pledged to replace the state education commissioner with an educator.
Republicans are likely to retain control of the legislature, which could make it difficult for Hinojosa to pass major laws; she will take office in January.
Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in the Texas governor’s race, denying him a fourth term.
Hinojosa will be the first Latina governor of Texas and the state’s first Democratic governor since Ann Richards left office in 1995.
The five-term state representative from Austin campaigned on public education and household costs and opposed the expansion of large-scale data centers.
Abbott promised to lower property taxes and said he had made Texas safer, in part by securing the border.
Hinojosa’s win ended more than three decades of Republican control of the Texas governor’s office.
- Who
- Gina Hinojosa defeated Greg Abbott.
- What
- Hinojosa won the Texas governor’s race, denying Abbott a fourth term.
- When
- Election Day was Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
- Where
- Texas.
- Why
- Hinojosa campaigned on public education and household costs and criticized the state’s Republican leadership. The sources also cite anger at the federal government and Donald Trump as a factor in a possible Democratic breakthrough.
Gina Hinojosa
Greg Abbott
Public education
Gina Hinojosa
Hinojosa opposed Abbott’s private-school voucher program and pledged to replace the state education commissioner with an educator.
Greg Abbott
Abbott championed the private-school voucher program, which began in 2026 with $1 billion in tax money.
Data centers
Gina Hinojosa
Hinojosa called for an immediate moratorium until the legislature sets industry guardrails.
Greg Abbott
Abbott had supported data center development, then ordered an audit and halted approval of related permits.
Campaign message
Gina Hinojosa
Hinojosa focused on household costs and opposed the expansion of large-scale data centers.
Greg Abbott
Abbott promised to lower property taxes and said he had made Texas safer, in part by securing the border.
Abbott touted a $40 billion Google investment that included three new data center campuses in Texas.
Abbott ordered an audit of data centers seeking to connect to the state’s grid.
Abbott halted approval of data center-related permits pending an audit of the existing waitlist.
Texans voted in the governor’s race, and Hinojosa defeated Abbott.
Hinojosa is scheduled to take office.
- Winner
- Gina Hinojosa
- Opponent
- Greg Abbott
- Office
- Governor of Texas
- Hinojosa’s age
- 52
- Abbott’s age
- 68
- Hinojosa’s expected inauguration
- January 2027
7 sources
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What people are saying
would be perceived as an earthquake
If Democrats win in Texas in 2026, it will be because of anger at the federal government and at Donald Trump,
gender-bender Hinojosa
Mom, Texan and soon-to-be governor