March 3 - Gina Hinojosa, a long-serving member of the Texas House of Representatives who spent nearly a decade leading the Texas Democratic Party as its chair, won the Democratic gubernatorial primary on Tuesday, according to U.S. media reports.
Hinojosa, 52, who first won election to the Texas House in 2016, had been widely viewed as the favorite in the Democratic primary contest. Her victory sets up a general election matchup in November against incumbent Republican Governor Greg Abbott, who is pursuing a fourth term in office.
The path to the governor's mansion will be difficult for the Democratic nominee. A Democrat has not won the Texas governorship since 1990, a fact that underscores the scale of the challenge Hinojosa faces going into the statewide race against a well-established incumbent.
Before her legislative service, Hinojosa worked as a civil rights and union lawyer. That background was highlighted during the primary campaign and helped attract endorsements from several Texas newspapers. Among those endorsements, the Houston Chronicle described her as not "a scintillating candidate," while calling her the "Democrats' best hope" to reclaim the governor's office.
The primary victory advances Hinojosa to a race that will determine the political leadership of the country's second-largest state. The contest will now move from intra-party competition to a head-to-head general election campaign against Governor Abbott, who is seeking to extend his tenure for an additional term.
Summary of facts
- Gina Hinojosa won the Texas Democratic gubernatorial primary on March 3.
- She is a longtime member of the Texas House, first elected in 2016, and previously served nearly a decade as chair of the Texas Democratic Party.
- Hinojosa is 52 years old and is a former civil rights and union lawyer.
- She will face Republican Governor Greg Abbott, who is seeking a fourth term; Democrats have not held the governor's office since 1990.
- She received multiple Texas newspaper endorsements, including the Houston Chronicle.