Hinojosa Defeats Abbott in Texas Governor Race
Democrat Gina Hinojosa unseats three-term Republican incumbent Greg Abbott, becoming the first Democrat elected Texas governor in more than three decades.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Gina Hinojosa defeated three-term Republican incumbent Greg Abbott in the 2026 Texas governor's race on November 3, 2026. Hinojosa, a state representative from Austin who grew up in McAllen, will be the third woman to serve as Texas governor.
Why it matters
The win ends more than three decades of Republican control of the governor's office in Texas, the last Democrat to hold it being Ann Richards, who served from 1991 to 1995. Hinojosa campaigned on affordability and public education, and opposed Abbott's school voucher program.
An August UT Austin poll showed Abbott leading Hinojosa 45% to 40% with 10% undecided, a margin that did not predict the outcome. The extraction does not provide the final vote margin or totals.
The players
Gina Hinojosa
A Democratic state representative from Austin who grew up in McAllen and will be the third woman to serve as Texas governor.
Greg Abbott
Texas's three-term Republican governor, first elected in 2015, who lost his bid for a fourth consecutive term.
The details
Hinojosa challenged Abbott, who first took office in January 2015 and had sought a fourth consecutive term. Hinojosa also joined other Democrats in calling for a moratorium on data centers until lawmakers establish additional protections, following Abbott's announced pause on new state permits for data centers.
Timeline
August 2026: UT Austin poll showed Abbott leading Hinojosa 45% to 40%.
November 3, 2026: Election Day, when Hinojosa defeated Abbott.
January 2027: Hinojosa expected to take office as governor.
Political Context
Gina Hinojosa's win follows Ann Richards' 1991 to 1995 term, the last time Texas had a Democratic governor. Her victory over a three-term Republican incumbent marks a return to Democratic control of the office after more than three decades.
Texans will see a governor who campaigned on affordability and public education and opposed Abbott's school voucher program. The state's policy direction on vouchers and data center permits could shift as new leadership takes office.
The takeaway
Voters signaled that rising costs weighed more heavily than partisan divisions in this race, a lesson Texas candidates in future cycles may weigh closely.
What happens next
Hinojosa is expected to take office in January 2027.
Further reading
Explore more on Elections coverage for Texas.
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