In a historic upset, Democrat Gina Hinojosa has defeated Republican incumbent Greg Abbott in the Texas gubernatorial race, ending decades of GOP dominance in the state. Abbott, who served as governor for 12 years, conceded the race Tuesday night, congratulating Hinojosa and thanking his supporters. The loss marks the first time a Democrat has won the governor’s race in Texas since Ann Richards in 1990. Hinojosa will also make history as the first Hispanic governor of Texas, a state with the largest Latino population in the U.S.
The victory comes despite a significant spending disadvantage for Hinojosa. According to campaign finance filings, Abbott outspent his opponent nearly eight-to-one, with his campaign disbursing $281 million compared to Hinojosa’s $36.8 million over the past year. Abbott’s spending this cycle more than doubled his $131 million outlay during his 2022 re-election bid. The race was called by the Associated Press Tuesday night.
Abbott’s defeat is part of a broader Democratic wave in Texas, with another major upset occurring in the state’s Senate race. Democrat James Talarico defeated Trump-endorsed Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, becoming the first Democrat to win a statewide race in Texas in over 30 years. The losses have sent shockwaves through the political world, with former President Donald Trump criticizing Abbott’s shift in strategy. “If Greg Abbott, the Governor of Texas, hadn’t become a RINO in the last six months of his Political Life, he wouldn’t have lost,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Abbott’s political career spans over three decades, including stints as a Texas Supreme Court justice and the state’s attorney general. He first won the governor’s seat in 2014, defeating state Sen. Wendy Davis by over 20 points. His concession speech Tuesday night reflected on his time in office, stating, “I love our state. It has been an honor to serve it.”