Hinojosa wins Texas governor race
November 4, 2026 · 3:25 a.m. Central
Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa is projected to defeat Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in the Texas governor’s race, ending three decades of Republican control of the office and putting her on course to become the state’s first Latina governor.
The Associated Press called the race for Hinojosa. CBS News independently projected her victory. Abbott, who sought a fourth term, conceded and said he had called Hinojosa to offer help with the transition, AP reported.
Election calls are projections, not certified results. State and local officials must finish counting and reviewing ballots before Texas finalizes the outcome.
How the candidates campaigned
Hinojosa, an Austin-area legislator, criticized Abbott’s handling of costs and argued that wealthy interests had too much influence in state government. She also challenged the expansion of power-hungry data centers and called for support for public schools, AP reported.
Abbott, who took office in 2015, criticized Hinojosa’s policies and cast her as too far to the left for Texas, according to AP. His campaign had sought a fourth term after three previous statewide victories for governor.
Hinojosa described growing up on the Texas-Mexico border during her election-night remarks in Austin, AP reported. Her proposals, including a proposed payment funded from state savings, would require action within Texas’ governing system; an election victory does not itself enact them.
