Democrat · Governor
Gina Hinojosa
Record verified Sept. 24, 2026 · Corrections welcome
Gina Hinojosa is the Democratic candidate for Governor in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hinojosa told the Texas Democratic Convention that Muslim Texans are Texans. Hinojosa campaigns on public schools, household costs and children's healthcare. The office signs or vetoes state law, appoints agency heads and many judges, commands the Texas Military Department and directs state emergency powers.
Gina Hinojosa’s sourced public-service history includes Trustee, at-large (board president 2015) in Austin Independent School District from 2012 to 2016; State Representative (HD 49) in Texas House of Representatives from 2017 to the present. Her Austin ISD term end is counted as the start of 2016 until the exact date is confirmed.
The sourced record below also covers: Hinojosa told the Texas Democratic Convention that Muslim Texans are Texans; Hinojosa campaigns on public schools, household costs and children's healthcare; Hinojosa called for transparency after an ICE shooting in Texas. Each item remains attributed to its original statement, filing, reported account, official action, or court record; allegations are not presented as findings.
Reported coverage
Coverage
Credible reporting and clearly labeled analysis, opinion, interviews, and guides.
Hinojosa presses Abbott over January 6 in TribFest appearance
Coverage of Hinojosa’s campaign message, advertising and argument against Abbott.
Gina Hinojosa launches campaign for governor
A profile of Hinojosa’s entry into the 2026 race against Abbott and the experience she brought to it.
Hinojosa challenges Abbott on education and public schools
Reporting on the candidates’ education records and competing approaches to Texas schools.
Texas Republicans turn against data centers
Reuters examines the political backlash to data centers in Texas and the policy pressure on state leaders.
Record sourced · Reviewed September 24, 2026
Record at a glance
Civil liberties
Backed policing transparency
Hinojosa called for transparency after an ICE shooting in Texas.
In a July 8, 2026 statement, Hinojosa called for release of body-camera and dash-camera footage and a transparent investigation involving the Texas Rangers.
Statement: Hinojosa calls for transparency after ICE killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo (campaign) · CANDIDATE-STATED / PRIMARY · reviewed September 24, 2026
Campaign-finance audit
Filing review and source trail
Partial review · checked September 24, 2026
The candidate’s available 2025–2026 TEC reports were reviewed through June 30, 2026. No explicitly identified pro-Israel PAC receipt was located; that finding does not establish a corporate-PAC-free campaign.
Source details
- Filing system
- TEC
- Review period
- 20250101 through 20260630
- Filing ID(s)
- 00080440
- Review scope
- Partial: PAC-name screening of the 2025–2026 Texas Ethics Commission reports through June 30, 2026 is done. Review of large individual donors and full PAC and independent-spending tracing is still outstanding.
How we checked
- Matched the candidate's Texas Ethics Commission filer ID and 2025–2026 reports in the September 24, 2026 bulk export.
- Screened contributor names for identified Israel-policy organizations; a plain word search was rejected because it matched donor surnames.
- Outstanding: list every PAC contributor, review individual donors giving $25,000 or more against independent advocacy sources, and trace independent spending.
PAC & IE receipts
Direct AIPAC, other pro-Israel PAC, IE support and IE opposition remain separate.
View receipts →Major donor context
No public info found
Israel-linked financial actions
No public info found
Muslim community engagement
We found no public record of an in-person engagement or organized policy work with a Muslim organization in the sources reviewed through September 24, 2026.
Years in public office: 12 years
Trustee, at-large (board president 2015) · Austin Independent School District
2012-11-19 – 2016 · AISD Board of Trustees elects new officers (Austin ISD, Nov. 19, 2012)
State Representative (HD 49) · Texas House of Representatives
2017-01-10 – present · Rep. Gina Hinojosa biography (Texas House of Representatives)
Her Austin ISD term end is counted as the start of 2016 until the exact date is confirmed.
Completed years of elected or appointed government service as of September 24, 2026, with overlapping terms counted once. Some dates are known only by year or month, so the count is conservative until exact dates are confirmed.
What to know
Certified for the November 3, 2026 ballot as the Democratic candidate.
Hinojosa told the Texas Democratic Convention that Muslim Texans are Texans.
Gina Hinojosa's full speech from the Texas Democratic Convention (campaign)
Hinojosa campaigns on public schools, household costs and children's healthcare.
Statement: Hinojosa on Greg Abbott's healthcare record (campaign)
Evidence
Muslims, Islam & Civil Rights — Documented Record
June 26, 2026 · statement · Campaign statement
Hinojosa told the Texas Democratic Convention that Muslim Texans are Texans.
In her June 26 convention speech, Hinojosa included Muslim Texans in a broader statement about equal belonging across racial and religious lines.
“Muslim Texans are Texans.”
Why it matters for this office: The governor directs state agencies whose actions affect Muslim Texans.
Receipts · 1
Gina Hinojosa's full speech from the Texas Democratic Convention (campaign) · CANDIDATE-STATED / PRIMARY · Last reviewed September 24, 2026
Democracy & Civil Liberties
July 8, 2026 · statement · Campaign statement
Hinojosa called for transparency after an ICE shooting in Texas.
In a July 8, 2026 statement, Hinojosa called for release of body-camera and dash-camera footage and a transparent investigation involving the Texas Rangers.
Why it matters for this office: The governor oversees the Department of Public Safety, which includes the Texas Rangers.
Receipts · 1
Statement: Hinojosa calls for transparency after ICE killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo (campaign) · CANDIDATE-STATED / PRIMARY · Last reviewed September 24, 2026
Family & Household Policy1 record
July 1, 2026 · statement · Campaign statement
Hinojosa campaigns on public schools, household costs and children's healthcare.
Her campaign says she would strengthen public schools, hold down utility costs, ensure healthcare for every Texas child and strengthen rural hospitals.
Why it matters for this office: The governor signs or vetoes the state budget, including school and health funding.
Receipts · 2
Statement: Hinojosa on Greg Abbott's healthcare record (campaign) · CANDIDATE-STATED / PRIMARY · Last reviewed September 24, 2026
Also: Convention speech (campaign) · CANDIDATE-STATED / PRIMARY
Office-Specific Record & AuthorityOpen
No candidate-specific record was located for this category in the sources reviewed through September 24, 2026.
How we checked
Muslim Community EngagementOpen
No candidate-specific record was located for this category in the sources reviewed through September 24, 2026.
How we checked
Political Money & Israel-Policy Organizations
No public info found
Palestine, Israel & Foreign PolicyOpen
The Texas governor does not set U.S. foreign policy. This section appears only for documented statements or state actions that materially touch foreign-policy-related organizations, contracts or investments.
This issue falls largely outside the authority of this office. We include it only when the candidate has addressed it publicly.
How we checked
Ballot listing: 2026 General Election statewide sample ballot, Texas Secretary of State. Page last reviewed September 24, 2026. Return to the Governor race overview. Methods & authorship. Corrections & updates.