WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: All Eyes on Gina Hinojosa as she Launches Campaign for Texas Governor

Brownsville, TX — Last week, State Representative Gina Hinojosa officially launched her campaign for Governor of Texas, sparking a surge of momentum with more than 100 endorsements from state, local, and national leaders. The outpouring of support reflects growing enthusiasm for a new type of leadership in Texas that puts working families ahead of wealthy donors and corrupt political insiders. 

“Texans need a governor who will fight for our families, and I know she will work for all of us, just as she did to save her kids’ local public schools,” said U.S. Representative Veronica Escobar (TX-16). “After years of rising costs It’s time for change in Austin and a governor like Gina who will work to make sure Texans have great jobs, can afford a place to live and access to healthcare, and that will grow the middle class.”

Former U.S Representative Colin Allred added, “Greg Abbott’s corruption has bled Texas dry — draining our schools, our hospitals, and our wallets to reward his billionaire donors. Gina Hinojosa has spent her life fighting for Texas families and taking on people like Abbott who think this state is for sale. She’s fearless, she’s principled, and she’s exactly the kind of governor Texans deserve. I’m proud to endorse her.”

For State Representative Diego Bernal (HD-123), Gina’s record speaks for itself: “Gina’s only interested in how her work plays out in the real world, in the lives of Texans. It has to matter. That’s why you can’t find one, not a single, solitary instance, where she buckled or flinched in the face of special interests, big money, or the Republican majority. She is literally everything Greg Abbott is not, and everything the people of Texas need.”

A full list of endorsements can be found here and highlights of press coverage from Gina’s launch include:  

Texas Rep. Gina Hinojosa joins Democratic race to challenge Gov. Greg Abbott

“She’s proven that she is a fighter,” said Maricela Alvarado, a 62-year-old Army veteran from Harlingen. “She has a lot of experience with how things are run in Austin and she’s not afraid.”

Voters react to Gina Hinojosa entering the governor race

Supporters say her message is a welcome change. Michael Muniz, a pharmacist from Harlingen, said her focus on everyday challenges made an impression.

“It was great. It’s a breath of fresh air—you know, somebody that really understands the issues and isn’t just looking out for corporate interests, the billionaires and stuff, but is there for the people,” said Muniz, who highlighted healthcare costs as his top concern…

Christina Ortiz, also from Harlingen, said issues like education and immigration are critical. But for her, Hinojosa’s candidacy is deeply personal.

“That’s the most exciting part. I love that she is a Latina and that she is from home. I will be here to support her 100% for that reason. There’s a sense of pride, and she has a standing chance to beat Governor Abbott,” said Ortiz.

Texas State Rep. Gina Hinojosa launches Democratic bid for governor

“I think Americans are done with politics as usual and are interested in shaking off labels and just wanting to see something real,” she said. “I’m as real as you get — a mom who got mad [who] ran for office.”

A former Austin ISD school board president, Hinojosa will center education, and campaigning on behalf of Texas public schools, in her bid. Hinojosa was elected to the statehouse in 2016.

Esta latina busca destronar al gobernador republicano de Texas y hacer historia

“Nuestra lucha actual es contra los multimillonarios y las corporaciones que están subiendo los precios, cerrando las escuelas en nuestra comunidad y negándoles a los texanos la atención médica básica”, afirmó Hinojosa en el video. “Esos son los intereses a los que sirve Greg Abbott”, denunció, en referencia a los donantes de campaña del republicano.

‘Failures and Grift’: Gina Hinojosa Wants to Stop Greg Abbott from Making History

“I think Latino voters in the Valley want someone who speaks to their issues and want someone who they can identify with. They are in search of leadership that they can believe in and so spending time hearing their stories and centering their stories I think will be important in this race. That’s what I’m doing. That’s why I’ve kicked off in the Valley. And I mean we had Valley Republicans at our rally supporting me last night.” 

“There is a pride in the hometown girl running that breaks through the partisanship and I will do my best to earn every vote I can down here.”

State Rep. Gina Hinojosa enters race for Texas governor

Supporters gathered for Hinojosa’s campaign launch on Wednesday and were seen holding signs that read “No Te Dejes.” That phrase translates as a directive to “know yourself and fight for it,” Hinojosa said during her speech.

“When you know your people have your back, you can do anything. When you know your people are with you, you can do anything. It is a courage, and it is a faith, to do the hard things. And because you give me courage — because I have faith in you, because I have faith in my family, my community, in God and in Texans — I am running to be the next governor of the State of Texas.”

As Hinojosa went on in her speech, supporters were heard chanting “Si se puede,” which means yes we can.

State Rep. Gina Hinojosa vows to ‘fight back,’ enters 2026 governor’s race 

“This is the Valley community that raised me and made me the woman I am today,” Hinojosa said. “I am a proud product of a Texas public school.”

“Rep. Hinojosa has been in the Texas Legislature since 2017 and has a very productive track record, having authored almost 100 bills,” Montfort said. “She has the most experience in state legislation of any Democrat to run for governor in recent history. This will likely give her an edge in the primary against Andrew White, who has no prior experience in government.”

Democrat Gina Hinojosa launches campaign for governor in Texas

“Our fight right now is against the billionaires and the corporations who are driving up prices, closing our neighborhood schools and cheating Texans out of basic healthcare,” Hinojosa said in a video launching her campaign. “That’s who Greg Abbott works for. I’m running for governor to work for you.”

In her launch video, Hinojosa taps into her roots in the Valley, citing a Spanish phrase used by her grandmother, “No te dejes,” to say she will “fight back.”

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Gina Hinojosa is a native Texan, born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley. She never planned on running for office, but when her son’s school was threatened for closure by state budget cuts she rallied parents, won a seat on the school board, and kept the school open. But neighborhood schools kept closing across the state because Republican leaders kept diverting money from them, so she ran for the Texas House of Representatives and helped win more than $11 billion in school funding, reduced standardized testing, and gave raises to teachers. 

Growing up in the Valley, Gina learned an important early lesson from her grandmother: ”No te dejes.” Fight back. And now she is taking the fight directly to Greg Abbott, who for over a decade has helped the corrupt elite get rich while working Texans struggle to get by.