Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeats Gov. Greg Abbott to become Texas' first Latina governor
Gina Hinojosa won the Texas gubernatorial race, ending three decades of Republican control and becoming the state's first Latina and first Democratic governor since 1995.
Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in the Texas governor's race, according to an Associated Press call. The victory ends more than 30 years of Republican control of the office. Hinojosa, a 52-year-old Austin state representative and former school board president, is set to take office in January 2027. She will be the first Latina to serve as Texas governor and the first Democrat since Ann Richards left office in 1995.
Hinojosa's campaign emphasized public education, household costs and criticism of state Republican policies, including opposition to Abbott's private-school voucher program launched in 2026 with $1 billion in tax funding. She pledged to replace Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath with an educator. Abbott, 68, had campaigned on lowering property taxes and enhancing border security.
Political analysts noted the significance of the outcome. > "A win by Hinojosa would be perceived as an earthquake after decades of Republican statewide victories," said David Crockett, a political science professor at Trinity University. He added that the new governor will likely face a Republican-led legislature, making the passage of legislation challenging. > "If Democrats win in Texas in 2026, it will be because of anger at the federal government and at Donald Trump," said Nancy Sims, a political science lecturer at the University of Houston.