Gina Hinojosa Becomes Texas's First Latina Governor, Defeating Incumbent Greg Abbott
Gina Hinojosa has been elected governor of the US state of Texas, becoming the first Democrat to win the office in more than three decades. By defeating incumbent Republican Governor Greg Abbott, she has become Texas's first Latina governor and restored Democratic rule in the country's biggest Republican stronghold.
Hinojosa is the first Democratic governor of Texas since Ann Richards in the 1990s.
In her victory speech in Austin, the 52-year-old told supporters she did not mind that people had doubted her; what hurt was that they had doubted all of them. She said her faith in Texas had never wavered.
Hinojosa pulled off the upset against Abbott, who was seeking a fourth term backed by billionaire Elon Musk and a campaign that spent 180 million dollars. She reached ordinary voters by speaking out against AI data centres and corruption. In her victory speech she stressed support for public schools and said Texas would bow to no one.
Conceding defeat, Abbott told his supporters that leading the state was the greatest honour of his life. He phoned Hinojosa and promised to help with the transfer of power.
President Donald Trump, however, vented his anger on social media and accused Abbott of being a 'Republican in name only'.
In the same Democratic surge in Texas, James Talarico captured a Senate seat. The victory after more than three decades is being seen as a major turning point for Texas politics and for the Democratic camp.
