Our Favorite Candidates in 2026 - Gina Hinojosa, Governor of Texas
The governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, is one of the most dangerous state-level officials to the existence of democracy, equal representation, civil rights, cost of living, and the labor movement, in the entire country today. This year, Texas has a chance to throw him out of office. Abbott knows this. Gina Hinojosa (she/her), a Texas State Representative for almost 10 years, is running for the Democratic nomination to run against him in November. And she has an impressive list of endorsements: she has the backing of progressive US Representative Greg Casar, Texas Democratic superstar James Talarico, the SEIU, AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers, Emily’s List, and the Houston LGBTQ+ political caucus.
Originally from McAllen, in the Rio Grande Valley, Gina attended the University of Texas at Austin and has a long history as an attorney in the state. She is most passionate about fully funding neighborhood schools, rooting out corruption, expanding access to affordable healthcare, protecting reproductive freedom, and ensuring workers have the right to organize and fight for fair wages.
Photo courtesy of Office of Texas State Representative Gina Hinojosa
Where are you based?
Austin, Texas
What is your position/what position are you running for?
I'm a State Representative serving House District 49 in Austin, and I'm running to be the next Governor of Texas.
How would you briefly summarize your platform?
I'm running to build a Texas where working families can actually get ahead — with strong neighborhood schools, a more affordable economy, fair wages, and a government that works for us, not for billionaire donors and special interests.
© Mike McGraw
What inspired you to run?
I never planned on running for office, but when my son's school was threatened with closure by state budget cuts, I rallied parents, fought back, and won a seat on the school board to keep that school open. When neighborhood schools kept closing across Texas because Republican leaders kept diverting money from them, I ran for the Texas House. Now, I'm running for governor because I've seen that the end of the line for corruption in Texas is Greg Abbott's office — and Texas families deserve better.
What change are you hoping to bring to your district and country?
Texas families will not have the lives we deserve as long as we have a Governor who can be bought. I'm running to end the pay-to-play corruption that has defined Abbott's tenure, fully fund our public schools, expand access to affordable healthcare, and ensure every Texan has the freedom to organize on the job and build a better life.
How long have you been in office? What do you consider to be your major accomplishments so far?
I've served in the Texas House since 2017. My major accomplishments include helping win more than $11 billion in new school funding, reducing standardized testing, securing raises for teachers, organizing the first quorum break in almost 20 years to block harmful voting restrictions, and delivering billions in funding for local healthcare systems.
Courtesy of Gina Hinojosa for Texas Governor
What do you feel are the most important issues right now, why, and how do you plan to tackle them?
Affordability, education, and healthcare. Families across Texas are being crushed by rising costs of housing, energy, and everyday essentials — much of this caused by Abbott's unchecked corruption. I will end the corruption so Texans can prosper again. I'll fully fund neighborhood schools with higher teacher pay and lower class sizes. And I'll expand Medicaid to ensure every Texan has access to affordable, high-quality care.
America is extremely divided these days. How would you hope to bridge that divide with your constituents to better unite Americans?
I hear from members of both parties about the problem of corruption in Austin — people are tired of Greg Abbott putting his donors first. I've stood with MAGA moms to save our schools from closure, because when it comes to fighting for our kids and rooting out corruption, party doesn't matter. I'll work with anyone willing to put Texas families ahead of special interests and billionaire donors.
© Casey Chapman Ross Photography
How do you see your unique identity and background to be an asset to you in office?
Growing up in the Rio Grande Valley, I saw firsthand how policy decisions made in Austin could either help families get ahead or lock them out of opportunity. As a civil rights attorney, school board president, and legislator, I've spent my career fighting for people who are ignored by those in power. I know how to build coalitions, how to listen, and how to get things done for Texans.
What is your motto in life?
"No te dejes" — fight back. My grandmother taught me that growing up in the Valley, and it's guided everything I do.
Where can we find out more about you?
www.ginafortexas.com
