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US Politics

Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeats Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who concedes

Hinojosa is the first Democrat to win the Texas governor's race since 1990 and will be the state's first Hispanic governor.

17 news outlets reported this
Liberal7 outletsHistoric upset built on affordability and anti-corruption populismCenter4 outletsDemocrats' long-awaited Texas breakthrough and national implicationsConservative6 outletsAbbott's loss, Trump's reaction, a Texas sweep
Published 4 min readMoney and daily life
Overview

Democrat Gina Hinojosa, a state representative from Austin, defeated Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in Texas on Tuesday. Abbott was seeking a fourth term. Hinojosa will be the state's first Hispanic governor and is the first Democrat to win the office since Ann Richards in 1990.

Abbott conceded Tuesday night, telling supporters that "mathematically, we are not going to be able to win this election." NBC News reports his campaign outspent hers by tens of millions of dollars. Hinojosa ran on affordability, opposed the growth of data centers and accused Abbott of corruption.

Abbott had paused new data center approvals before the vote. He attacked her as too "woke" and criticized her record on transgender issues. She replied with an ad saying her pronouns are "mom, Texan and soon-to-be governor."

Democrat James Talarico also defeated Republican Ken Paxton in the US race, according to the Daily Mail and The Center Square. The Daily Mail reports that Trump wrote on Truth Social that Abbott would not have lost had he not become a "RINO." According to AP, Republicans still hold a majority in the Texas statehouse.

Key figures
  • $180 million Abbott's campaign spending since last year, per AP — The Seattle Times
  • $1,500 one-time payment per resident proposed by Hinojosa — The Seattle Times
  • over 500 data centers in Texas, per NBC News — NBC News
  • $26 million raised by Abbott from September 25 through October 24, per The Texas Tribune — Daily Mail

Three sides of the story

Liberal7 outlets

Historic upset built on affordability and anti-corruption populism

The Guardian calls it "a stunning political upset" and says Hinojosa ended Abbott's bid for a fourth term. It says her candidacy was viewed at the outset as a long shot, and that Abbott, described as a staunch Trump ally, attacked her as "gender-bender Hinojosa." Mother Jones headlines a "Political Earthquake" and credits her focus on Abbott's "corruption," data centers and vouchers, along with her phrase "the Greg Abbott corruption tax."

It quotes her saying the culture war "wasn't winnable." NBC News, projecting the result, reports that Abbott's campaign outspent hers by tens of millions of dollars. It adds that in September Abbott halted data center permit approvals while an audit of their effect on the electrical grid was conducted.

NBC also notes that voters never saw a debate between the two, and it quotes her ad line "working people are too broke." ABC News carries a video of Abbott addressing supporters after conceding.

Center4 outlets

Democrats' long-awaited Texas breakthrough and national implications

The Seattle Times, running an AP report, opens with "a stunning upset" and describes Hinojosa as Texas' first Democratic governor in over three decades. The report calls the win the payoff of a long Democratic hope that demographic change would bring a shift in political power. It says the loss "will set off alarms" for Republicans, and that Republicans keep a majority in the statehouse, which will test how much power she has.

It also notes her proposed one-time $1,500 payment to residents. Newsweek leads with her history-making win, gives her share as 54 percent, and quotes Abbott's concession words and SMU professor Calvin Jillson on the money gap. It adds sections on enforcement, data centers and the Trump factor.

The Hill and Border Report headline Abbott's concession. The Hill notes Decision Desk HQ had not yet called the race, with Hinojosa leading by roughly 8 points and 80 percent of the vote in.

Conservative6 outlets

Abbott's loss, Trump's reaction, a Texas sweep

The Daily Mail reports Hinojosa's win, as projected by CNN, amid what it calls a "blue wave" in Texas. It quotes Trump's Truth Social post saying Abbott would not have lost had he not become a "RINO," and describes her campaign against Flock cameras, which she tied to state funding under Abbott. It adds that as her campaign rose, Abbott shifted on data centers, calling for an audit of proposed projects and a halt to grid hookups.

The Epoch Times headlines the defeat, calls it "a stunning win," and talks to voters in Collin, Rockwall and Dallas counties. It notes a late-October RealClear average showing Abbott up 3.4 points, and quotes Republican strategist Jeff Burton saying Abbott's long backing of data centers likely hurt him. The Center Square headlines a "historic sweep," citing unofficial results of 57% to 41% and Talarico's win over Paxton.

Townhall calls it a "surprise victory" and says most polling showed Abbott ahead by five points. It also embeds a post by Eric Daugherty claiming Democrats were caught making up a Republican voter against Abbott.

Where outlets disagree
Money and daily life

Hinojosa campaigned on a one-time $1,500 payment to each Texas resident, which she called a "Corruption Tax Refund," to come from the state's emergency savings fund, according to AP. AP also reports that Republicans still hold a majority in the statehouse, where her power will be tested. Outlets have not reported whether the payment will be enacted.

All sources: 18 articles from 17 outlets

Liberal (7)

Center (5)

Conservative (6)

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