Texas Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Tries to Rebrand Herself as 'Post-Partisan' Amid Voter Frustration
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Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa is attempting to broaden her appeal beyond the left by saying Texans are tired of both parties, while centering her campaign on public schools, child health care and opposition to data-center projects.
Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, the Democratic candidate for Texas governor, told "Face the Nation" that voters are "deeply disappointed in both political parties" and that many Texans are looking for a "post-partisan" alternative. She said the prevailing sentiment is that "politics as usual" is no longer acceptable because the system is perceived as broken, framing herself as a break from the same political class that has dominated state and national debates.
Hinojosa, a civil-rights and labor lawyer who has served in the Texas House since 2017, is challenging incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott. A recent CBS News poll showed Abbott ahead 52% to 48%. Because Texas has more registered Republican voters, Hinojosa said she must attract support from across the aisle, a reminder that her path depends on persuading voters who do not typically back Democrats.
"There is bipartisan anger about what Greg Abbott has done to our public schools," Hinojosa said, adding that improving Texas public schools is a central part of her campaign.
She emphasized that her platform is not strictly a Democratic one but a populist agenda aimed at delivering for all Texans, highlighting child health-care access and high insurance premiums as priorities. Hinojosa also pointed to data-center development in rural areas as a point of common concern, noting issues such as water usage, electricity costs and property-rights impacts, which she says deserve scrutiny before more projects move forward.
The candidate has filed a lawsuit seeking emails between Abbott and Elon Musk, citing the need for transparency about the governor’s relationship with the Tesla and SpaceX CEO, who has contributed millions to Abbott’s campaign.
Despite Texas’s long-standing Republican lean, Hinojosa expressed optimism about voter turnout and enthusiasm for her campaign.
"Turnout is high, enthusiasm is high on our side, so we feel really good about where we are," she said.