Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa led Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in early returns Tuesday in the Texas governor's race, as counties across the state continued tabulating votes. As of 7:50 p.m., Hinojosa had 56% of the reported vote to Abbott's nearly 43%, according to The Associated Press. The race had not been called, with about 38% of the estimated vote counted.
Two Trinity University political science professors cautioned against reading too much into the first returns. David Crockett said the location of uncounted votes matters when assessing either candidate's lead. Austin Bussing said early voters may differ from Election Day voters in their political preferences and their motivation to vote.
Abbott is seeking a fourth term. Hinojosa, an Austin state representative and former Austin school board president, has campaigned on public education and household costs. She opposes private-school vouchers and state takeovers of local school districts. Abbott supports the voucher program created in 2025, which he says gives parents more options for their children's education.