A five-term state lawmaker from Austin has officially thrown her hat into the ring for Texas governor, joining what's become a crowded Democratic primary field hoping to unseat Republican incumbent Greg Abbott in 2026.
Austin Lawmaker Takes on Uphill Battle
State Representative Gina Hinojosa announced her gubernatorial campaign early Wednesday morning, becoming the sixth Democrat to enter the race against Abbott, who's seeking his fourth term. The 51-year-old Latina attorney and civil rights lawyer kicked off her campaign in her hometown of Brownsville in the Rio Grande Valley, a region where Democrats are working hard to reconnect with Latino voters after Republicans made significant gains in recent elections.
In her campaign launch video, Hinojosa invoked a Spanish phrase her grandmother used, "No te dejes," which translates to "Don't let yourself" or "fight back". The emotional appeal to her roots clearly signals her strategy to energize the Valley's voters while building a statewide coalition.
"Our fight right now is against billionaires and corporations who are driving up prices, closing neighborhood schools and cheating Texans out of basic healthcare," Hinojosa declared in her announcement video. "That's who Abbott works for. I'm running for governor to work for you."
Platform Focused on Education and Healthcare
Hinojosa brings substantial legislative experience to the race, having represented Austin in the Texas House since 2016 after serving on the Austin ISD school board. Her campaign priorities include:
- Lowering costs for Texas families
- Defending public schools and increasing education funding
- Expanding healthcare access across the state
- Reining in corporate influence in politics
- Opposing taxpayer-funded savings accounts for private school attendance
The mother and union lawyer secured an early endorsement from U.S. Senate candidate Colin Allred shortly after her announcement.
Steep Climb in a Red State
Hinojosa faces a daunting challenge in reliably Republican Texas, where no Democrat has won statewide office since 1994. President Donald Trump carried the state by 13 points in the 2024 election, and Abbott maintains a firm grip on the statehouse. Still, Hinojosa emphasized that voters across Texas—including those in the Rio Grande Valley—will be essential to winning this race.
The Democratic primary field also includes Andrew White, son of former Texas Governor Mark White, who previously ran for governor in 2018. As the campaign heats up, Hinojosa will need to distinguish herself in a crowded field before taking on the well-funded Abbott machine in the general election.