EL PASO, Tx., January 31, 2026: Candidate for Texas governor, Gina Hinojosa who is running for the Democratic Party nomination in the governor’s race is in El Paso meeting with potential supporters. Hinojosa announced her candidacy on October 15.
Hinojosa attended two events in El Paso yesterday. A public event was held this morning on the east side.
One of the events was at the Books are Gems bookstore. The bookstore is a nonprofit promoting literacy among children. Hinojosa was at the bookstore yesterday afternoon. Her second event was in the evening at Mac’s in downtown El Paso.
This morning Hinojosa attended a Meet & Greet with supporters at Gabriel’s Restaurant and Bar on the east side of town.
State Representative Vince Perez (D-77) helped to organize the event yesterday and this morning’s meet & greet. According to Perez, yesterday’s event “was a small reception with elected officials.” Today’s event at Gabriel’s was a larger public event to meet supporters.
Perez told us that “Gina is a product of the border region and understands communities like El Paso.” He added that “she’s been a fierce advocate for working families in Texas and a fighter against Republican policies like school vouchers, redistricting, and the inhumane detentions by ICE.” Abbott has supported the Trump administration’s efforts on border security, including controversial Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. However, after the death of two U.S. citizens killed by ICE agents, Abbott urged that ICE should “recalibrate” its immigration enforcement mission, while at the same time calling on the education commission to investigate recent Austin ISD students protesting ICE.
Perez went one to add that “Hispanics are now the largest population group in Texas, and Gina Hinojosa is the worst nightmare scenario for Greg Abbott and Republicans – someone who is principled, unafraid to take on a fight, and has broad appeal among Texas voters, especially those who are being harmed under the Trump and Abbott economic policies that favor only the wealthy.”
We asked Hinojosa campaign about her visit to El Paso.
Hinojosa Says Excited to Be In El Paso
In a written comment, Hinojosa said that “I’m so excited to be here in El Paso – the energy is incredible and everywhere I go, people are ready for change.” She added that “Texans are fed up with working more and more while getting less and less because they are paying the Greg Abbott Corruption Tax.” Hinojosa wrote that her campaign is “building something powerful across this state, and we’re going to keep that momentum going through November.”
Gina Hinojosa at Books and Gems, January 30, 2026, Special to the El Paso Herald Post.
There are nine candidates on the Democratic Party primary ballot for governor, including Hinojosa. In addition to Hinojosa, the candidates are Patricia Abrego, Jose Navarro Balbuena, Chris Bell, Bobby Cole, Carlton W. Hart, Zach Vance, Angela Villescaz and Andrew White. The websites for the candidates are listed below.
The top contenders were Cole and Hinojosa.
White, the son of former Texas Governor Mark White dropped out of the race on January 5 and endorsed Hinojosa. Although Bell has not officially dropped out of the race, since January 16 his campaign website has been archived and is no longer part of his campaign.
According to the latest campaign finance reports, Hinojosa has raised around $1 million in campaign funds and has spent $578,793.68. She reported having $661,125.19 left in campaign funds. Cole has reported accepting around $60,000 in campaign funds and spending $153,701.03 on his campaign. He reported having $27,465.15 left in his campaign. Zach Vance reported that he did not accept any campaign contributions and reported spending $4,018 on his campaign. Likewise, Angela Villescas reported no campaign contributions and reported spending $3,750 on her campaign.
Abrego, Balbuena, Hart and Vance did not report any contributions or expenses.
The latest campaign reports were due on January 15 for campaign contributions and expenses from July 1, 2025, through December 31. Any contributions and expenses this year will not be reported until the next reporting period.
Hinojosa was first elected to the Texas House in 2016, representing Austin’s District 49. Hinojosa is the daughter of former Texas Democratic Party chair, Gilberto Hinojosa. The elder Hinojosa was the state party chair from 2012 through November 8, 2024.
According to Texas Southern University December polling numbers, Hinojosa holds a significant lead over White among Texas Democratic voters. She polled at 41% to White’s 5% and Bell’s 6% of likely Texas voters polled between December 9 and December 11. Cole is polling at 3%.
An Emerson College poll published on January 15 shows that Hinojosa polls well among likely voters in a matchup between her and Greg Abbott. Hinojosa polled at 42.3% to Abbott’s 50.2%. The same poll shows voters disapprove of the job Greg Abbott is doing, 47.4% to 47.1%. The Emerson poll surveyed voters on January 10th through the 12th.
Since April 2025, more voters disapprove of Abbott than approve of him as the Texas governor. Abbott’s latest approval rating in October is 46% who disapproved of his job as governor.
Texas Governor Democratic Primary Candidates’ Websites (only candidates with a website are shown, click on their name to visit the website)
Jose Navarro Balbuena
Bobby Cole
Gina Hinojosa
Zach Vance
Angela Villescaz
Cover picture credit: Gina Hinojosa campaign.
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