Democratic candidate for Texas Governor Gina Hinojosa speaks at a rally, ahead of the midterm elections, in Austin, Texas, US, November 2, 2026. REUTERS/Mike Segar
Democrat Gina Hinojosa won the Texas governor’s race Tuesday, cracking a Republican stronghold that hadn’t elected a Democratic governor since 1990.
Hinojosa, a state lawmaker from Austin, defeated Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who was seeking a record fourth term, the Associated Press, CNN and NBC News projected. Abbott conceded the race.
She’ll become the first Latina governor in Texas history, and the first Democrat elected to the office since Ann Richards in 1990.
Abbott, governor since 2015, entered the year with a roughly $105 million war chest to Hinojosa’s $4 million, and outspent her 6 to 1 from July through late September, according to state filings. He ran in a state Trump carried by about 14 points in 2024.
Hinojosa’s win came the same night Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton in Texas’ Senate race, giving Democrats their first Senate win in the state since 1988.
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