Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican who has led the state since January 2015, faces a challenge from Democratic State Representative Gina Hinojosa in the November 3, 2026, general election. Abbott is seeking a fourth consecutive four-year term. Hinojosa would be the first Democrat elected governor of Texas since Ann Richards won the office in 1990, according to the Eagle Pass Business Journal.
Recent statewide polling shows the race has tightened. According to the University of Texas Texas Politics Project polling tracker, a recent CNN survey had Abbott at 48 percent and Hinojosa at 46 percent among likely voters. A Texas Southern University survey had Abbott at 50 percent and Hinojosa at 47 percent. The differences are within or near the reported margins of error.
The Business Journal reported that the election could matter for Maverick County, the Eagle Pass Independent School District and nearby South Texas communities. One issue it highlighted is the future of public education and how the state distributes funding to school districts.