Democratic State Representative Gina Hinojosa from Austin has officially declared her candidacy for governor of Texas, energizing supporters in a small venue in downtown Brownsville. The event drew a crowd of over a hundred friends and family, all cheering on her campaign slogan, “No te dejes!”
Hinojosa explains that “No te dejes” conveys a powerful message about self-worth and resilience, a lesson she learned from her grandmother. “It means ‘Fight back’ and ‘Don’t let yourself be pushed around,'” she told the Houston Chronicle. She is determined to embody this spirit throughout her campaign.
A core theme of Hinojosa’s campaign is a strong critique of current Republican Governor Greg Abbott, whom she has labeled as the “most corrupt governor in Texas history.” Her stance is built on accusations that Abbott prioritizes corporate interests over the welfare of Texas residents. “Time and time again, he will prioritize corporate interests, corporate greed, over the people of Texas,” she stated. Hinojosa plans to hammer on these points as she faces off against Abbott next year.
Leading up to her announcement, Hinojosa pointed to a report from Public Citizen, a nonprofit dedicated to consumer rights, which outlined concerning practices by Abbott’s administration. The report claims that since 2020, Abbott has declared numerous state emergencies, using them as a means to sidestep the competitive bidding process and award nearly a billion dollars in no-bid contracts. Alarmingly, these companies had collectively contributed around $3 million to Abbott’s campaign.
The Public Citizen report identified eight companies that secured these contracts, frequently linked to recent crises such as COVID-19 and hurricanes. In each of these cases, recipients were found to have made substantial donations to Abbott’s Texans for Greg Abbott PAC.
Among the significant contributors is Pennsylvania billionaire Jeff Yass, who made headlines last year for donating a staggering $12 million as Abbott vigorously sought approval for a private school voucher program. Hinojosa has openly criticized Abbott for accepting such contributions, denouncing the arrangement as a form of corruption. She also pointed to Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock’s decision to grant a $50 million contract to Odyssey, a tech company tied to Yass.
“It is a grift,” Hinojosa asserted to a CBS reporter, characterizing the dealings as padding the pockets of the well-connected. She believes these close ties highlighted in the Public Citizen report are indicative of the enormous $87 million campaign fund that Abbott has amassed. “You don’t get that kind of campaign cash doing the bidding of the people. Abbott has that amount of campaign money because he is corrupt,” Hinojosa claimed as she sought to build momentum for her own campaign.
Currently, Hinojosa’s campaign funding pales in comparison to Abbott’s resources, with just $72,000 on hand. Her political journey began in 2012 when she joined the efforts to protect Allan Elementary, her son’s school, from being taken over by a charter school company. Her commitment paid off, and she earned a seat on the Austin Independent School District board. Hinojosa’s advocacy helped shift the board towards a more progressive stance.
In 2016, she won a seat in the Texas House of Representatives, where she has since served on the public education committee. Hinojosa has gained a reputation as a staunch advocate for local schools, a sentiment echoed by her colleagues such as fellow Representative Donna Howard. Howard remarked, “Her fierce advocacy provides a sharp contrast to Abbott’s legacy of shortchanging and privatizing our public education system.”
As she embarks on her run for governor, Hinojosa will first have to face rancher Bobby Cole and businessman Andrew White, son of former Governor Mark White, in the Democratic primary set for next spring. She has secured a wide array of endorsements from notable figures, including U.S. Representatives Lloyd Doggett, Greg Casar, and Jasmine Crockett, along with several state senators and local officials.
Senator Sarah Eckhardt praised Hinojosa’s determination and ability to mobilize resources effectively during her political career. “I have tremendous admiration for Gina’s bravery and tenacity,” Eckhardt said, reflecting the growing support behind Hinojosa’s campaign.
Abbott has faced little serious opposition in the past, winning his previous campaigns comfortably. However, recent polling indicates a dip in his approval ratings, with many Texans identifying corruption as a top issue both statewide and nationally. Democratic insiders see potential in Hinojosa’s candidacy, anticipating that her dynamic presence could resonate with voters.
Political strategist David Butts remarked on her appeal: “She’s Abbott’s worst nightmare. She’s younger, she’s got more energy, she’s a woman, and she’s Hispanic. And that appeals to a cross-section of the electorate that probably feels somewhat dumped on by Greg Abbott and his authoritarian ways.”
As Hinojosa moves forward in her campaign, her focus on accountability and the fight against corruption will serve as central pillars in her bid to connect with Texas voters.
image source from：austinchronicle
