TYLER, Texas (KETK) — Gina Hinojosa made a campaign stop in East Texas on Tuesday, sharpening her pitch to voters and outlining some of her proposals — including a statewide halt on new data centers, sweeping public‑school reforms and what she calls a “clean slate” for Texas leadership.
If elected, she would become the first Democrat to win the governorship since Ann Richards in 1990, facing incumbent Greg Abbott, who has held the position since 2014.
Are Texans ready for a change?
Hinojosa says the political mood she’s encountering on the campaign trail reflects a growing appetite for new leadership. After nearly 12 years under Abbott, she argues that voters are frustrated with the status quo and increasingly open to a reset in Austin.
“What I’m seeing all across the state is that people want change. It’s not that people are suddenly team Democrat. It’s that people want a break away from politics as usual,” Hinojosa said.
Abbott discusses relief on diesel fuel prices at campaign stop in Hemphill
She frames her campaign as a chance to rebuild trust in state government and reorient priorities toward everyday Texans.
“We need a clean slate and fresh start,” she said. “We need to rebuild a government that is working for us.”
Data centers become a statewide flashpoint
One of the most contentious issues in Texas politics this year is the rapid expansion of data centers, which has sparked mounting concerns over water use, environmental strain, and local infrastructure from North Texas to the Hill Country.
Abbott has moved to increase regulations on data centers in recent months, but Hinojosa says the state needs a far more aggressive approach. She proposes an immediate statewide halt on new data center construction until comprehensive protections are in place.
“I would put an immediate ban on any further data centers, make sure that we have laws passed to protect Texans before that is lifted,” she said.
She also pointed to concerns about water usage, saying any agreements that jeopardize drinking water would be undone under her administration.
“Any agreements that have been made that jeopardize the water, the drinking water of Texans, the water we use for our homes, would be null and void when I am governor,” Hinojosa said.
Public education at the center of her platform
Hinojosa has made public education one of the pillars of her campaign, arguing that Texas schools are underfunded, overburdened and constrained by outdated accountability systems.
She has repeatedly criticized the STAAR test, calling it ineffective and out of step with what students actually need.
“We need true accountability based on an objective standard, not the STAAR test, which so many acknowledge is inappropriate and broken,” she said.
Her education plan also includes raising teacher pay to levels competitive with the highest‑paying states.
“Use that money to pay teachers to be among the highest paid in the nation,” Hinojosa said.
Early voting begins Oct. 19, and Texans have until Nov. 3 to cast ballots in a race that could reshape the state’s political landscape.
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