Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa denied supporting Austin's $150 million police budget cut during an interview on the Walton and Johnson radio show. When a host cited reporting from several outlets, including Texas Scorecard, Hinojosa said the reports were inaccurate. Host Kenny Webster then read from an August 2020 social media post in which she questioned why Austin should be punished for diverting police funding to other public safety priorities.
Hinojosa did not dispute the post. She said her position concerns local control and that local communities should not be punished by the state for it. She was also asked about her 2021 vote against House Bill 1900, which set penalties for large Texas cities that defund the police. She said she voted to avoid punishing local governments for acting on what their communities want.
Hinojosa, who is running against Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, was also asked about her positions on girls' sports and transgender-related medical procedures for minors. She declined to say directly whether she would keep those positions as governor. Abbott's campaign has put up billboards saying "Gina Hinojosa Wants to Defund The Police." In a statement to Texas Scorecard, Abbott campaign press secretary Eduardo Leal accused Hinojosa of lying about her record.