Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Gov. Greg Abbott in the governor's race, making her Texas's first Democratic governor since 1994. Hinojosa served on the Austin ISD board of trustees from 2012 to late 2015, including as president. She has said she will replace Education Commissioner Mike Morath on her first day in office and end state takeovers of public schools.
Austin ISD faces a budget crisis and the threat of state intervention after Burnet and Webb middle schools received their fifth failing accountability ratings. Education policy experts said a new commissioner would still be bound by state law, which requires intervention. The details of that intervention, including whether the state would replace the elected school board or close the two campuses, could still change.
Rachel White, an associate professor at the University of Texas at Austin, said replacing Morath would require a nominee confirmed by the Texas Senate, which needs two-thirds of senators present. Republicans will keep control of the chamber, she said. A pending appeal of the ratings could remove the threat of intervention by December.