CBS Texas
Hinojosa defeats Abbott, makes history
Texas' first Democratic governor in decades, and the third woman to hold the office.
Read more →Governor-elect · State of Texas
A New Day for Texas
Gina Hinojosa defeated three-term Gov. Greg Abbott on November 3, 2026, becoming the first Democrat elected governor of Texas in more than three decades. Now the work begins: stronger public schools, lower costs for families, and a government that answers to Texans.
✔ Race called Nov. 3
🏛 Takes office January 2027
★ First Democrat elected governor since 1990
Election Results
Texas Chose Hinojosa
Major news organizations projected Gina Hinojosa the winner of the governor's race on election night. Counties are still finishing their official canvass, so final vote totals will come from the Texas Secretary of State.
Projected Winner
Live official count ↗
Gina Hinojosa (D)
Defeats incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott (R), ending a decades-long run of Republican governors in Texas.
30+ yrs
Since Texas last elected a Democratic governor
3rd
Woman to serve as governor of Texas
Jan 2027
Inauguration and start of her first term
About
Meet Gina Hinojosa
A daughter of the Rio Grande Valley, a civil rights lawyer, a public-school parent, and a fighter for Texas families.
Born in McAllen and raised in Brownsville, Gina spent her summers with her grandparents in Mission. She earned a Plan II Honors degree in government from the University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from George Washington University.
She began her career as a civil rights attorney representing working people and union members, including at AFSCME, and has worked with Catholic Charities USA, Texas Rural Legal Aid and the Equal Justice Center. In 2012 she was elected to the Austin ISD Board of Trustees, and in 2016 voters sent her to the Texas House, where she has represented District 49 since 2017.
In the Legislature she became one of the strongest voices for fully funding public schools and against private school vouchers. She and her husband, John, are raising two children in Austin.
“Call me a liar to my face.”— Rep. Hinojosa, challenging Gov. Abbott's claims about school vouchers, 2025
⚖️
Civil Rights Lawyer
Built her career defending workers and families.
🏫
School Board Trustee
Served Austin ISD students from 2012 to 2016.
🏛️
State Legislator
Five terms representing Austin in the Texas House.
🌵
Valley Roots
Raised in Brownsville, shaped by the border region.
Platform
What Governor Hinojosa Will Fight For
The priorities she ran on, and the agenda Texans just endorsed.
📚
Public Schools First
End the private school voucher program, raise teacher pay, overhaul high-stakes standardized testing, and put more resources into neighborhood schools.
🏡
Property Tax Relief
Cut, and work toward eliminating, homeowners' residential property taxes, paid for in part by reducing corporate subsidies.
💵
Money Back to Families
A proposed one-time $1,500 payment to Texas households from the state's Rainy Day Fund, with legislative approval.
🗳️
Local Control
Stop state takeovers of local school districts and appoint an educator to lead the Texas Education Agency.
⚡
Protect Communities from Data Centers
Pause new data centers until lawmakers put real protections in place for residents' power, water and bills.
🩺
Health Care Access
Building on her Healthy Texas Act proposal to expand affordable, comprehensive coverage for Texans.
Legislative Record
A Record of Standing Up
Highlights from a decade in public office.
$40B
Fully Fund Our Future Act for teacher raises and school funding (2023)
HB 1307
Streamlined disaster assistance, signed into law (2019)
5 terms
Representing House District 49 in Austin
4 yrs
On the Austin ISD Board of Trustees
2017
Fighting Human Trafficking
Won House passage, 113–32, of $3 million for services for trafficking survivors.
2019
Disaster Relief & Health Care
Authored HB 1307, creating a system for disaster assistance applications, and proposed the Healthy Texas Act.
2021
Defending the Right to Vote
Joined House Democrats in breaking quorum to block new voting restrictions.
2023
Fully Fund Our Future
Authored a $40 billion plan to raise teacher and staff pay and increase per-student funding.
2025
Standing Firm on Vouchers & Maps
Led the fight against private school vouchers and joined the quorum break over mid-decade redistricting.
2026
Elected Governor
Won the Democratic primary in March and defeated Gov. Abbott in November.
In the News
Election Night Coverage
TIME
Hinojosa ousts Gov. Greg Abbott
A result that ends decades of Republican leadership in the governor's mansion.
Read more →KUT News
What's at stake: schools and household costs
Where Hinojosa stands on vouchers, property taxes and family rebates.
Read more →Help Deliver on the Promise
Winning was step one. Stay involved as Governor-elect Hinojosa gets to work for every Texan.