Democrat Gina Hinojosa, the state representative for Austin since 2016, is asking Lubbock voters to support her campaign against Governor Greg Abbott, who is seeking a fourth term. Hinojosa said Texas should return to "basics" and compared her goal to the federal Department of Government Efficiency, which was created by President Trump through a 2025 executive order.
Hinojosa said waste, fraud and abuse exist in state vendor contracts, not among state workers. She said she would end contracts she called corrupt and use that money to pay teachers. She also said she would fire Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath.
Abbott's campaign has said Hinojosa wants to raise property taxes and has accused her of voting 40 times to do so. Hinojosa said she has never voted to increase property taxes and that she does not support a state income tax. She said an ad paid for by Texans For Greg Abbott uses an interview filmed more than 10 years ago, before she was a legislator. Hinojosa also said property taxes rose under a board Abbott installed at Houston ISD, which she said violates the state constitution.
Hinojosa proposed reducing the state's rainy day fund from $27 billion to $10 billion and sending the remainder to Texas households, about $1,500 per household. She acknowledged the plan would need legislative approval.