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Gina Hinojosa Beats Greg Abbott to Become Texas' First Latina Governor
The Brownsville-born labor lawyer unseated a three-term incumbent who outspent her more than four-to-one, according to The Texas Tribune.
Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated three-term Gov. Greg Abbott, who conceded Tuesday night, according to The Texas Tribune. She will be Texas' first Latina governor and the first Democrat in the office since Ann Richards lost in 1994. Alongside James Talarico's Senate win, Hinojosa denied Abbott a record fourth term.
Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated three-term Gov. Greg Abbott, who conceded Tuesday night, according to The Texas Tribune. Alongside James Talarico's Senate win, Hinojosa beat Abbott, denying him a record fourth term. Here's who she is.
1. She's a Brownsville native and a labor lawyer
Hinojosa, 52, is a labor lawyer by trade from Brownsville, per the Tribune. She said she never intended to run for office.
2. A school closure got her into politics
The potential closure of her son's elementary school in 2012 spurred her to run for the Austin ISD school board, where she became board president, the Tribune reported. She was elected to the Texas House in 2016 and made public education her focus.
3. She was the ultimate underdog
Few outside Central Texas knew her when she launched her campaign in October 2025, according to the Tribune. Abbott entered the year with a large cash advantage, and she overcame a more than four-to-one spending gap. An August UT Austin poll had Abbott up 45% to 40%, CBS News Texas noted.
4. Her pitch: schools and kicking out billionaire influence
She ran on revitalizing public schools and purging state government of undue corporate and billionaire influence, the Tribune reported. CBS Texas said she focused on affordability and education.
5. Her victory line
"We did it. Everything is bigger, including the shock of this win. We shocked the world tonight," Hinojosa said, per the Tribune. "It never bothered me that they doubted me. It bothered me that they doubted us," she said. Abbott conceded at 10 p.m. and called her to congratulate her. "I love our state. It has been an honor to serve it," he said. On X, Hinojosa wrote: "We will lead with a politics of courage, not convenience."
6. She makes history
She will be Texas' first Latina governor. The last woman and last Democrat in the office was Ann Richards, who lost to George W. Bush in 1994, per the Tribune. How much she can change depends on lieutenant governor and Texas House results, the Tribune noted.
