Democratic Rep. Gina Hinojosa Nears Governor Greg Abbott in Texas Polls

Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa is polling within the margin of error against three-term Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, according to a Texas Pulse poll released on Aug. 7 that showed a 46%-45% split. If elected, Hinojosa would become the first Texas Democrat to win the governorship since 1990 and the state’s first Latina governor.

Hinojosa, a five-term Austin legislator, is running on a platform that emphasizes affordability, public-education reforms, and tighter regulation of data centers, which she says strain the electric grid and water resources. She also proposes a $1,500 direct payment to households from the state’s rainy-day fund to address cost-of-living pressures.

Political scientists note that while the race has tightened, Democrats still face historic disadvantages in Texas. "I don’t see a lot of signs of Democratic strength, but I see a lot of signs of Democratic potential," said Kirby Goidel, a Texas A&M professor who helps direct the Texas Pulse poll.

Hinojosa’s background includes civil-rights litigation, service on the Austin school board, and a tenure in the Texas House where she worked on education-finance reforms and reduced standardized testing. She has also participated in quorum-breaking actions to block legislation she viewed as restrictive.

Republican campaign officials have characterized her policies as “out of step with Texans,” while Abbott’s campaign has warned against what it calls “socialist policies.” Despite Abbott’s higher name recognition and fundraising advantage, recent polling shows the gap narrowing to single digits.

The race marks the first time in more than three decades that a Democrat is within striking distance of the governor’s mansion, and a win would break a 30-year streak of Republican control of the office.