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Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa speaks Friday at the Texas Democratic Convention at the Hilliard Center in Corpus Christi.<\/p>\n
Katina Zentz\/San Antonio Express-News<\/p>\n
CORPUS CHRISTI \u2014 Pushing an affordability-first campaign, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa said Friday her own party has failed to connect with Texans on everyday economic concerns.<\/p>\n
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Hinojosa, an Austin state representative, also accused Gov. Greg Abbott of building a pay-to-play system that benefits wealthy donors and corporate interests. But at the same time, she said Democrats have too often allowed Republicans to define the economic debate.<\/p>\n
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Luciano Garza passes out merchandise for Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa during the Texas Democratic Convention at the Hilliard Center in Corpus Christi on Friday, June 26, 2026.<\/p>\n
Katina Zentz\/San Antonio Express-News<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile Greg Abbott and Republican politicians who have been in charge for 30 years own this reality, Democrats must own our failure to name it and fight it,\u201d Hinojosa said at the state party convention. \u201cSomewhere along the way, we left the kitchen table behind.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Hinojosa said her answer is a populist campaign focused on affordability, public education and curbing the influence of monied interests in Texas politics.<\/p>\n
Hinojosa is fighting for name recognition in a state campaign cycle that has been dominated by the Senate race\u2019s bruising primaries, and at the convention, James Talarico\u2019s star turn as the face of the Texas Democratic Party.<\/p>\n
The gathering gave her an opportunity to raise her profile<\/a> with the party faithful as she launched what she called \u201ca populist movement of bringing power back to the people of Texas.\u201d<\/p>\n She said that rising costs, struggling public schools and economic inequality are the product of decades of Republican rule and a political system that rewards big donors over ordinary Texans.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cGreg Abbott is tearing us apart with our differences because he knows and he fears the truth: Together, we can take back corporate power and return that power and opportunity to the people of Texas,\u201d she said in her convention speech.<\/p>\n Hinojosa, 52, has blasted Abbott for putting wealthy campaign donors ahead of ordinary Texans as he seeks an unprecedented fourth term. Her campaign placed billboards around\u00a0 Corpus Christi accusing Abbott of corruption ahead of the convention in the coastal city.<\/p>\n Abbott’s campaign has rejected that,saying his conservative policies have fueled Texas’ economic growth, job creation and business expansion.<\/p>\n School focus<\/p>\n Public education remained at the center of Hinojosa’s message.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n A former Austin ISD school board member, Hinojosa criticized Abbott\u2019s signature school choice program<\/a> that will give the parents of about 100,000 children about $1 billion in taxpayer money to pay for private school education.<\/p>\n She called it \u201chis voucher scam,\u201d saying it came about only after he received millions of campaign dollars from an out-of-state donor.<\/p>\n Hinojosa said that public education would be the centerpiece of her efforts.<\/p>\n \u201cMy agenda is simple, and it is short, because the plan should be as plain as the promise: Save Texas schools,\u201d Hinojosa said.<\/p>\n She\u2019s promised to fire the head of the Texas Education Agency on her first day in office. And she\u2019s hoping parents’ anger<\/a> over closed schools, state takeovers of districts such as Fort Worth ISD and the school voucher program will translate into votes.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n