Abbott Criticized Hinojosa Over Income Tax Record
Governor Greg Abbott targeted Representative Gina Hinojosa's past remarks regarding state income taxes during the campaign.
Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Elections
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Governor Greg Abbott has criticized Representative Gina Hinojosa by citing her previous comments on state income taxes. Hinojosa has denied these characterizations and stated that she opposes implementing a state income tax.
Why it matters
Abbott is highlighting the issue to define his opponent's economic stance to voters ahead of the election. Hinojosa argues that the current constitutional ban, which passed with significant support, is sufficient for the state.
In May 2019, the Texas House passed HJR 38, a constitutional amendment to ban state income taxes, by a 100-42 margin. Texas voters subsequently approved this measure in November 2019 with 76% of the vote.
The players
Greg Abbott
He is the current Governor of Texas.
Gina Hinojosa
She is a member of the Texas House of Representatives.
The details
The criticism stems from a 2016 interview where Hinojosa suggested an income tax could fund state government. While she voted against HJR 38 in 2019, Hinojosa maintains she does not support a state income tax.
Timeline
February 2016: Hinojosa discussed state income tax in an interview.
May 2019: The Texas House voted on HJR 38.
November 2019: Texas voters approved the income tax ban.
September 8 to October 5, 2026: Real Clear Politics polling average period.
October 19 to October 30, 2026: The early voting period for the election.
Political Context
The opposition party and supporters of Representative Gina Hinojosa argue that these attacks misrepresent her current platform to distract from other policy issues. They maintain that the constitutional ban on state income taxes is already settled law and effectively protected from legislative changes.
The gubernatorial race may influence future tax policy and state budget priorities for Texas residents. Voters will decide the direction of state governance during the upcoming early voting period.
The takeaway
The debate over income tax serves as a focal point for campaign messaging in the final weeks before voting. Residents should review candidate platforms to understand how their stated positions might affect the state's long-term fiscal policy.
What happens next
Early voting for the election is scheduled to begin on October 19 and will conclude on October 30, 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about the upcoming Elections in Texas.
Live Poll
Do you trust a candidate's stated position on tax policy despite their past legislative votes?
