WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
  • Decision Desk HQ projected Gina Hinojosa defeated Gov. Greg Abbott with 85% of precincts reporting.
  • Hinojosa made history as Texas’ first Latina governor and ended a 32 year Democratic drought in the executive branch.
  • Abbott’s campaign relied on Republican turnout rather than debating Hinojosa, but the strategy failed.
  • Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton for Texas’ U.S. Senate seat.

Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in the Texas governor’s race, ending his effort to secure a fourth term. Decision Desk HQ projected Hinojosa as the winner with 85% of precincts reporting.

At the time of the projection, Hinojosa led Abbott by a margin of 53 to 45. The result delivered a major victory for Texas Democrats and a bruising rejection of the Republican incumbent’s campaign strategy.

Hinojosa also made history as the first Latina to become governor of Texas. Her victory broke a 32 year barrier that had kept Democrats from taking control of the state’s executive branch.

The gubernatorial result was only part of a far broader Democratic victory in Texas. Voters also handed Democrats control in the state legislature and the state’s U.S. Senate seat.

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Abbott, like other Republican candidates, refused to debate his opponent during the campaign. Fox News host Martha McCallum pressed him Tuesday on The Story about his decision not to face Hinojosa on the debate stage.

Abbott pointed to his record in office and what he believed was an advantage among Republican voters. Rather than debate, he determined that rallying Texans to cast their ballots would be the most effective approach.

“What it really comes down to, Martha, is voter turnout. We gotta make sure Republicans turn out. If you look at our early voting turnout, it was pretty even between Republicans and Democrats.”

Abbott argued that Republicans still had more available voters than Democrats. His stated mission was to drive those voters to the polls, especially across rural communities and small towns throughout Texas.

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“What we know is this: There are still more Republican voters who are available to vote than there are Democrats. So, we have one mission right now, to make sure Republicans across the state, especially in rural areas, [and] in small towns across the state.”

Abbott continued by urging Republicans not only to vote, but also to make certain their values were represented on the ballot. His campaign placed its bet on turnout rather than a direct debate with the Democratic challenger.

Tuesday’s result made clear that the strategy did not work. Hinojosa secured the projected victory while Abbott conceded the race and addressed supporters at a watch party.

The loss denied Abbott the fourth term he had sought and removed Republicans from the governor’s office. It also accompanied Democratic gains elsewhere in the state, making the evening especially grim for the Texas GOP.

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Hinojosa built a strong coalition during the campaign. In its final days, she appeared alongside Democratic U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico as both candidates sought victories in their respective contests.

Talarico defeated Texas Attorney General and Republican nominee Ken Paxton in the U.S. Senate race. He is now the senator-elect for Texas, giving Democrats another significant victory on the same night as Hinojosa’s win.

The pair’s victories placed the governor’s office and the U.S. Senate seat in Democratic hands. Texans turned control of the state legislature over to Democrats.

For Republicans, Abbott’s defeat came despite his confidence that the state still contained more Republican voters available to cast ballots. His campaign’s turnout appeal ultimately failed to produce enough support to overcome Hinojosa’s coalition.

The result ends a 32-year stretch in which Democrats had been unable to take control of Texas’ executive branch. Hinojosa will enter the office not only as a Democrat succeeding a Republican incumbent, but also as the state’s first Latina governor.

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