State Rep. Gina Hinojosa is making affordability the centerpiece of her campaign for governor, unveiling a proposal to send every Texas household a one-time $1,500 payment if she\u2019s elected in November.<\/p>\n
Hinojosa, the Democratic nominee for governor, announced the plan Tuesday during a campaign stop in Houston, calling it a \u201ccorruption tax refund\u201d and saying Texans deserve to benefit from the state\u2019s record savings instead of watching the money sit unused. <\/p>\n
Under the proposal, the payments would be funded by drawing $17 billion from Texas\u2019 Economic Stabilization Fund, commonly known as the Rainy Day Fund. The fund held a record $24.8 billion as of November 2025, according to the Texas Tribune. Hinojosa\u2019s campaign estimates the plan would leave roughly $10 billion in reserves after the payments are made. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe government is broken,\u201d Hinojosa said while announcing the proposal. \u201cIt is more, right now, a burden than a help for people. That changes when I\u2019m governor.\u201d <\/p>\n
Hinojosa said she would declare affordability an emergency on her first day in office and ask lawmakers to approve the plan, arguing Texans are struggling with rising costs, high rates of uninsured residents and financial hardship. <\/p>\n
The proposal, however, faces significant legislative hurdles. Any withdrawal from the Rainy Day Fund for purposes other than addressing a budget shortfall requires approval from two-thirds of both chambers of the Texas Legislature. Republicans currently control both the House and Senate. <\/p>\n
Meanwhile, incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott has continued to focus his campaign on property tax relief. Abbott has proposed eliminating school property taxes for homeowners and placing tighter limits on annual property appraisal increases. <\/p>\n
Hinojosa will face Abbott in the November general election as she seeks to become the first Democrat elected Texas governor in more than three decades. <\/p>\n