Gina Hinojosa Texas governor candidate Gina Hinojosa said Sunday that widespread frustration with Democrats and Republicans in the Lone Star State is fueling what she called a new, post-partisan approach to politics.
“Right now nobody wants politics as usual. Most of us see that it is broken,” she said in a national television interview.
Hinojosa, 52, a civil rights and labor attorney who has represented parts of Austin in the Texas House since 2017, is challenging Gov. Greg Abbott. If elected, she would be the first Democrat and the first woman to lead Texas in roughly three decades. A recent poll showed Abbott ahead 52% to 48%.
In a state where Republicans hold a registration advantage, Hinojosa said she will need support across party lines, arguing that voter dissatisfaction has created “a new way forward.”
Gina Hinojosa Texas governor agenda centers on schools
Hinojosa said there is bipartisan anger over Abbott’s education policies and that “saving Texas public schools” is central to her platform. She described her agenda as populist rather than partisan, highlighting priorities such as improving children’s access to healthcare and tackling high insurance costs.
She also pointed to concerns over the rapid expansion of data centers, especially in unincorporated rural communities. Hinojosa said residents are worried about water usage, electricity costs, and property rights, and she called for stronger protections and a bigger voice for affected Texans.
The campaign has also pressed for transparency. Hinojosa has filed a lawsuit seeking emails between Abbott and Elon Musk, noting Musk’s significant political contributions and major Texas business interests. “We need to know what exactly is going on,” she said.
Abbott’s office responded that the governor is focused on elevating Texas to number one in education, codifying his data center guardrails, ending sales tax incentives for data centers, and lowering household costs. The office also said public education funding is at a record high and average teacher pay has risen more than 30% under his leadership. His campaign added that Abbott will continue traveling the state to speak directly with voters.
With Election Day approaching, Hinojosa expressed confidence in her chances despite Texas’ long red streak. “Turnout is high, enthusiasm is high on our side, so we feel really good about where we are,” she said.
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