Texas Governor-Elect Gina Hinojosa Outlines Legislative Vision 

This week’s midterms were nothing short of mind-blowing, with one of the most surprising results coming in Texas, where Democrats won the Senate seat, took control of the state House, and the governor’s seat. Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa spoke to reporters at the University of Texas on Thursday to outline how she intends to govern in the Lone Star State. 

The Washington Post reports that Hinojosa told reporters she would work to undo harmful GOP policies on healthcare, grocery and energy costs, public schools, and public lands. Hinojosa vowed to issue a moratorium on data centers and fire the state superintendent of schools.

No one would ever accuse Republicans of being gracious in defeat, and the Republican state legislature is pushing legislation that would limit Hinojosa and newly elected Democratic lieutenant governor Vikki Goodwin’s ability to execute their agenda. We saw Republicans in North Carolina do something similar in 2024 to strip power from incoming Democratic legislators. 

Hinojosa addressed these efforts while speaking to reporters. “The people of Texas have spoken. I think it’s important as elected leaders that we respect what the people of Texas have said,” she said. 

“They want change. And I would hope the elected leaders don’t get in the way.”

Education is one of the biggest question marks of Hinojosa’s agenda. The Republican state legislature has spent the last several years passing laws banning DEI in schools, putting Christianity in schools, and effectively censoring what can be taught in state colleges and universities. 

It’s unclear how Hinojosa will address those issues, simply because it’s unclear if she actually has the power to meaningfully reverse those policies. According to The New York Times, Texas educators have expressed relief that having a Democratic governor likely means the issues won’t be compounded at the very least. 

“These have been very dark times on campus,” Pauline Strong, an anthropology professor at the University of Texas at Austin, told The Times. “It’s a new dawn, and we’re going to see much better days ahead.”

One of Hinojosa’s main priorities once taking office is restoring some semblance of bipartisan lawmaking. “This governor’s office does not belong to me; it does not belong to my party. We did not end one era of single-party rule just to usher in another,” she said during her victory speech. 

Hinojosa has already put her money where her mouth is by including Republican former state Rep. Ernest Bailes on her transition team. “I believe in Gina, and I have faith that we will be able to do good things for the state of Texas. We will put partisanship aside,” Bailes said.

“People are tired of the divisions, of the fighting, of the culture wars. This is the time to come together in a way that is about just delivering for the people of Texas,” Hinojosa told reporters. 

When it comes to Texas, I expect Hinojosa and Senator-elect James Talarico to take a more moderate bent because they are representing what has long been considered a Republican stronghold. If they want to maintain their gains, they’re gonna have to work with Republicans. With Republicans still maintaining control of the state Senate, bipartisanship isn’t a nicety; it’s a necessity if Hinojosa wants to implement meaningful legislation. 

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